Search continues for Gary Jones, missing since Feb. 8 at Lake Oconee
Search for missing man continues at Lake Oconee
Volunteer search crews and dogs spent another day at Lake Oconee to continue the days-long search for Westminster Schools coach and teacher, Gary Jones. He disappeared on February 8 after he was seen on a small fishing boat with his fiancée, who was found dead a day after they went missing.
PUTNAM COUNTY, Ga. - Volunteer search teams and cadaver dogs are expected to return Tuesday to Lake Oconee in a continued search for Westminster Schools coach and teacher Gary Jones, who has been missing since Feb. 8.
Jones was last seen on a small fishing boat with his fiancée, Jocelyn Wilson, a math instructor at Spelman College. The couple was celebrating his 50th birthday when they disappeared.
Joycelyn Wilson
What we know:
So far, search crews have recovered Jones’ shoes, a hotel room key card, his wallet, and his driver’s license.
On Feb. 9, the day after the couple went missing, Wilson’s body was found in the water near the location where Jones' shoes were discovered. Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills says Wilson had air in her lungs when she was recovered and was found with her phone in her hand.
Investigators say the couple had checked into a hotel at Lake Oconee before heading directly to the lake. Approximately two hours later, boaters discovered an empty boat idling on the water.
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Jones' former students, others join search
What they're saying:
Among those searching for Jones are former students and alumni of Westminster Schools on West Paces Ferry Road where Jones is employed as a coach.
FOX 5 Atlanta spoke with one of those alumni.
"He was just like a father figure to everyone and he was the type of person that if he ever found out that any of us were missing, he would have been the first one out here to look for us," said Lauren Cherry. "So I feel like it's important for us to all come back and do that for him."
Cherry is a former student of Jones’ at Westminster Schools and is out at the lake helping with the search.
Former student talks about Gary Jones
A former student talks to FOX 5 Atlanta about Gary Jones, a beloved coach who is missing after an incident more than a week ago at Lake Oconee.
"He was my eighth grade science teacher, he was also my varsity track coach and at the end of the day, I think he's just an amazing person," she said. "He was the type of person that cared about all students, whether they were his students or not."
The United Cajun Navy, a nonprofit group, joined the search effort as well.
"This is a sad situation here and we're all about doing whatever we can to help victims and their families and friends," said Capt. Laurence Walker.
Walker says there is a lot of timber in the water which complicates things for divers.
"Working with the dogs, hopefully, we can narrow it down," he said.
There has also been a high-tech upgrade with the crews now utilizing an underwater drone to help with their search below the water’s surface.
What's next:
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has classified the case as a death investigation. Search efforts are ongoing.