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'I will not give up until I get justice' grandmother of airport worker found in river vows

"It haunts me day and night because she was under my watch," Seabrum said. "I feel very guilty because I always kept her close to me."

Newton County investigators say the death of an airport worker with autism has been ruled a homicide.

Shanequa Sullivan vanished after a shift at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in February. It’s been five months since the 19-year-old woman’s body was found floating in the Yellow River. 11Alive's Natisha Lance spoke with the woman's grandmother about the case.

"I will not give up until I get justice for Shanequa," Celeste Seabrum said.

Authorities have confirmed that her granddaughter died from homicidal violence.

"My first thought is they tortured her before they killed her," she said.

READ | Cause of death released for airport worker found dead in river

Shanequa, who is autistic, was starting to make strides toward independence with her first job. Everything was halted on Feb. 4, when she vanished.

A boater found her body floating in the Yellow River a month later.

"She was dead before she was put in the river because, you know? There was no evidence that she had drowned," her grandmother said.

In June investigators told 11Alive they were pulling Shanequa's cell records to help with the investigation.

Thursday, investigators said there were no updates or credible leads in the case.

"It haunts me day and night because she was under my watch," Seabrum said. "I feel very guilty because I always kept her close to me."

The case has been challenging from the start. Crucial surveillance video that showed Shanequa's last movements at the airport got scrubbed from the system.

RELATED | 'She said we found her in the Yellow River': A grandmother grieves after a tragic call

APD said they failed at securing the video, but how that happened is still under investigation.

"I just want justice for Shanequa and God willing, I'm gonna get it," Seabrum promised. "I got patience because I waited six months to hear this. God has taught me patience if nothing else."

The case is still open. Investigators told 11Alive they are determined to solve the case.

"I'm just in it for the long haul. I will not give up until I get justice."

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