The search for a Westminster Schools coach and teacher continued Monday, 10 days after he was last seen on Lake Oconee on his 50th birthday.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said cadaver dogs were expected to return to the popular lake in east Georgia on Tuesday, along with volunteer search crews after Sunday’s storms hampered their efforts.
But so many questions remain, including where is Gary Jones? And what caused his disappearance and the discovery of his fiancee’s body? While Sills has said it was more than a simple drowning investigation, he hasn’t released information explaining why.
Jones and Joycelyn Nicole Wilson were seen on a small fishing boat Feb. 8. But about two hours later, that same boat was empty when it was spotted circling a couple of miles north of the Wallace Dam.
The following day, Wilson’s body was pulled from the water. The Spelman College math instructor, who adored her students and was known for her sense of humor, was 49. Jones’ sneakers were found in the water, about 15 yards apart, near some rocks in the general vicinity of where Wilson’s body was found, officials said.
Sills told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday that when the couple’s boat was found, Jones’ brown, trifold wallet with his driver’s license inside was onboard the empty vessel, along with a key card to their room at The Lodge on Lake Oconee. Wilson’s ID, some cash and a credit card were inside a fanny pack she had on, Sills added.
He said officials from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources told him that Wilson’s cellphone was found in her right hand. Jones’ phone has not been located.
Information obtained from the medical examiner about the autopsy has raised questions and caused the sheriff’s office to investigate further, Sills confirmed Monday.
Credit: Putnam County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Putnam County Sheriff's Office
“The totality of all the circumstances ... is requiring us to take additional measures to thoroughly investigate this case,” he said.
Investigators reviewed some video footage from Feb. 8 that was available, according to Sills, but it has not offered clues to what happened to the couple. Both were healthy adults and could swim, the sheriff said. However, the fishing boat was not one typically seen on the lake, he said.
“The boat they were in was not appropriate for this water,” Sills said. “It was a dangerous situation to start with.”
Also found on the boat was a decorated cookie, Sills confirmed, but the writing in icing was not legible.
Sills said the search for any signs of Jones will likely continue for the foreseeable future as resources remain available. There were plans for more search boats at the lake Tuesday, including crews with possibly multiple cadaver dogs. The sheriff noted that the water in the search area, which is 80-plus-feet deep in spots, could be around 40 degrees at depth.
The Putnam sheriff’s office joined the DNR last week in searching the lake, shoreline and nearby woods. Sills has called the case a “death investigation” but not a homicide investigation at this point.
Sills said he wasn’t optimistic divers would be able to locate the man’s body unless it were to surface.
The couple, who first met some 30 years ago at Clark Atlanta University, had reconnected later in life and got engaged during the holidays, according to one of Wilson’s friends. Natasha Harrison, who sang in the church choir with Wilson, said her friend had posted on social media that she had found love.
“On paper, they’re the same person,” Harrison said.
Jones also attended Georgia Tech, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, a school spokesperson said.
After completing her undergraduate degree at Clark Atlanta, Wilson had earned master’s degrees at both Clark Atlanta and the University of Maryland, according to her Spelman biography page.
Wilson was happy and excited for her future with Jones, Harrison said. The couple planned to marry March 14. But now, their family and friends are devastated, grieving Wilson’s loss while anxious for answers about Jones after what was supposed to be a quick weekend trip.
Credit: Putnam County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Putnam County Sheriff's Office
Jones and Wilson put the small boat into the water at Fish Tale Marina at a ramp along Ga. 44. Once the boat was in the water, Jones steered it to The Lodge, where he picked up Wilson, Sills previously said. From there, the two rode away across the cold waters.
In a statement to Channel 2 Action News, the Jones family thanked all of those who have looked for the science teacher, who coaches track and field at the private school. Jones is the brother of former University of Georgia and NFL star Sean Jones.
“We thank you for all the well wishes, the prayers and most importantly your efforts in helping us find Gary,” the family said. “This has been a horrendous experience for our family but we will not rest until he is found. We are following all developing leads in the events surrounding his disappearance. However, our most important focus now are the multifaceted search efforts in water and on land.”
Former students are among those who have joined in the search, along with those who live in the area.
“We have unwavering faith in God that Gary will be found and that more details will be brought to light,” the family said. “While we are enduring this difficult process, we ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy. Again, we sincerely thank you.”
— Staff writer David Aaro contributed to this article.
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