Body of Atlanta Teacher Found 1 Month After He Disappeared with His Fiancée on Georgia Lake: Reports

Mar. 15, 2025

The body of an Atlanta teacher was found a month after he and his fiancée went missing during a boating trip in February, multiple news outlets report.According to local stationsWAGAandWGXA, Gary Jones was found in Lake Oconee on Sunday, March 9.TheAssociated Pressreported that the educator was recovered not far from where his fiancée, Joycelyn Wilson, was found dead the day after they went missing on Feb. 8.Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills toldThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionthat Jones’ body was found in around 45 feet of water.PEOPLE has contacted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office for comment.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Gary Jones.Gary L. Jones/FacebookJones' family reportedly hired search-and-recovery expert Keith Cormican of Wisconsin to help in looking for him. Sheriff Sills toldThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionthat Cormican used an underwater sonar.According to WAGA, Sills and Cormican found Jones' body around noon local time on Sunday, about 75 to 100 yards away from where Wilson was previously found.Joycelyn Wilson.Spelman CollegeThe outlet reported that Jones had been celebrating his 50th birthday with his fiancée at the lake in February.Their boat was discovered unoccupied near the lake’s dam later that afternoon. Wilson’s body was then found the next day near Jones’ items, including his shoes and wallet.An emergency dive response team on Lake Oconee in Georgia.FacebookIn astatementon Facebook on March 3, Sills said the search for Jones, which included dogs and diving teams from multiple states, had to be suspended due to weather conditions.“We have deployed aircraft, all available underwater technological devices, and professional divers in our efforts,” Sills said. “I cannot remember such an extensive use of government and civilian personnel and resources for an incident such as this on Lakes Oconee and Sinclair in the last 40 years.“Jones and Wilson were reportedly planning on tying the knot this month. According to AP, they had been staying at a hotel on the lake at the time of their boat trip.Sills told WAGA that while the cause of Jones' death has not yet been determined, he likely died after a boating accident.“All the evidence at this time, that’s what it points to, yes,” he said.

The body of an Atlanta teacher was found a month after he and his fiancée went missing during a boating trip in February, multiple news outlets report.

According to local stationsWAGAandWGXA, Gary Jones was found in Lake Oconee on Sunday, March 9.

TheAssociated Pressreported that the educator was recovered not far from where his fiancée, Joycelyn Wilson, was found dead the day after they went missing on Feb. 8.

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills toldThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionthat Jones’ body was found in around 45 feet of water.

PEOPLE has contacted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office for comment.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Gary Jones.Gary L. Jones/Facebook

Search continues for Westminster coach Gary L. Jones, missing since Feb. 9 at Lake Oconee

Gary L. Jones/Facebook

Jones' family reportedly hired search-and-recovery expert Keith Cormican of Wisconsin to help in looking for him. Sheriff Sills toldThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionthat Cormican used an underwater sonar.

According to WAGA, Sills and Cormican found Jones' body around noon local time on Sunday, about 75 to 100 yards away from where Wilson was previously found.

Joycelyn Wilson.Spelman College

Joycelyn Nicole Wilson

Spelman College

The outlet reported that Jones had been celebrating his 50th birthday with his fiancée at the lake in February.

Their boat was discovered unoccupied near the lake’s dam later that afternoon. Wilson’s body was then found the next day near Jones’ items, including his shoes and wallet.

An emergency dive response team on Lake Oconee in Georgia.Facebook

Gary Jones. Emergency Dive Response Team on Lake Oconee, recovery of the drowning victim

Facebook

In astatementon Facebook on March 3, Sills said the search for Jones, which included dogs and diving teams from multiple states, had to be suspended due to weather conditions.

“We have deployed aircraft, all available underwater technological devices, and professional divers in our efforts,” Sills said. “I cannot remember such an extensive use of government and civilian personnel and resources for an incident such as this on Lakes Oconee and Sinclair in the last 40 years.”

Jones and Wilson were reportedly planning on tying the knot this month. According to AP, they had been staying at a hotel on the lake at the time of their boat trip.

Sills told WAGA that while the cause of Jones' death has not yet been determined, he likely died after a boating accident.

“All the evidence at this time, that’s what it points to, yes,” he said.

source: people.com