The remains found on the property of a Cherokee County house earlier in July have been identified by the GBI Crime Lab as the homeowner, authorities said Friday.

Gary Farris, 58, was the owner of the house in the 2000 block of Purcell Lane, which the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office investigated July 6-7, according to a news release.

RELATED: Cops investigating after Cherokee County family finds human remains on property

The incident is being investigated as a homicide, the release said.

The sheriff’s office said it “is confident that this is not a stranger-on-stranger crime and Mr. Farris knew the suspect(s).”

Farris was an attorney for the Atlanta-based law firm Burr & Forman, the company confirmed. He founded the firm's Atlanta office in 1995.

The firm sent a statement to Channel 2 Action News that said: “We are devastated by this news and mourn the loss of our colleague and friend, Gary Farris. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gary’s family and friends, including everyone here at Burr.”

An investigation is ongoing.

In other news:

Police say the man was getting in his car around 4 a.m. when he was approached by three men.