Secret Service asked to unlock Spelman instructor's phone after death
Why Putnam Co. sheriff scaled back Lake Oconee search
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills says he's partially suspending the search on Lake Oconee for Atlanta coach Gary Jones. Cadaver dogs and divers will take the backseat for the time being due to weather conditions.
PUTNAM COUNTY, Ga. - The Putnam County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that investigators have asked the U.S. Secret Service for help in unlocking the cell phone that belonged to Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Wilson.
What we know:
Wilson's body was found in Lake Oconee on Feb. 9 after she and her fiancé, Westminster Schools coach Gary Jones, disappeared during a boat outing on Feb. 8. Their empty boat was discovered that afternoon near the lake's dam.
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- Lake Oconee tragedy: Spelman College instructor mourned, Westminster coach missing
- Search continues for Gary Jones, missing since Feb. 8 at Lake Oconee
- 13 days after disappearing, Gary Jones remains missing on Lake Oconee
Joycelyn Wilson Credit: Spelman College photo
Jones and Wilson were at the lake to celebrate Jones' 50th birthday. The couple had planned to marry in March, according to friends.
Since then, dozens of volunteers and multiple agencies have been searching for Jones. Although his shoes, wallet, and other personal belongings have been located, his body has not.
On March 1, the sheriff's office launched its largest search effort yet at the lake, a popular destination for fishing and boating.
RELATED: Divers, dogs amp up search for missing Atlanta teacher on Lake Oconee
The search operation included eight divers and several cadaver dog teams from Florida and Georgia, working alongside Putnam County sheriff's deputies and a Department of Natural Resources helicopter.
Search teams also utilized sonar technology, conducting 11 dives on nine identified targets, but found no trace of Jones.
Putnam County turns to Secret Service to unlock phone
What they're saying:
Sheriff Sills previously told FOX 5 Atlanta that in all his 50 years of working in law enforcement, he had never seen such a big effort put into recovering someone believed to have drowned.
"There's never been anybody looked for like this for 22 days," said Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills.
He shared that he was grateful to see just how many people were ready and willing to assist where possible.
Using witnesses and phone records, he says whatever happened to Jones and Wilson on Feb. 8 happened between 5:01 p.m. and 5:24 p.m. while on his boat. The sheriff says, based on the evidence, they believe Jones is in the lake despite rumors saying otherwise.
Still, the search was partially suspended on Sunday after Jones was not located on Saturday.
RELATED: Lake Oconee search for missing Atlanta teacher partially suspended indefinitely
"We reached a point where this is not working, and that's not to say that we won't deploy dogs again if the water warms up," Sheriff Sills said.
Wilson’s body was found the day after the pair disappeared, but Sheriff Sills says Jones is likely in the deepest portion of the lake, in about 70 feet of water.
"It's conceivable it could be months before this body surfaces," Sheriff Sills said.
Investigators say phone data shows Wilson took several pictures in the minutes leading up to her death, but because of a password, they cannot see them.
They have now turned it over to the U.S. Secret Service for help.
"I don't want the families to think that we've given up," Sheriff Sills said. "We haven't."
What's next:
Jones was reportedly still holding her cellphone when her body was found.
RELATED: Service set for Spelman instructor as Lake Oconee search for coach continues
The Secret Service assists in unlocking cell phones due to its specialized expertise in digital forensics, which allows agents to access data on locked devices that regular law enforcement may not be able to.