After more than a month of extensive searching into the disappearance of beloved Atlanta Westminister School techer and athletic coach, the body of Gary Jones was located on Sunday, March 9 only about 100 yards from the body of his his late fiancee Joycelyn Wilson also an educator, taught at Spelman College. The pair, both 49, disappeared while on a boating excursion to celebrate Jones’ 50th birthday on Lake Oconee, Putnam County officials said. Wilson’s body was recovered on Feb. 9, one-day after the couple’s disappearance.
It was during an early morning scour for Jones that Sills and Search and Recovery Consulting owner Keith Cormican, and Cormican’s assistant, used a roving device to find Jones’ body 45 feet underwater.
“The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division (GA DNR-LED) extends our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Ms. Joycelyn Wilson and Mr. Gary Jones during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with them as they navigate this heartbreaking loss,” the DNR stated in a Facebook post published Sunday.
Game wardens were first alerted to an empty circling vessel on the lake. While investigating, authorities identified the owner of the powerless boat and determined two adults had been aboard it earlier in the day, the DNR previously said.
With the use of SONAR equipment, authorities said they began searching the area.
Investigators previously told the AJC that Jones and Wilson were possibly en route to a restaurant at the lake and could have been on the small boat for about 90 minutes.
“The circumstances in this case indicate it’s not just a simple drowning,” Sills said in the past report.
Jones was found 29 days after disappearing at the lake. Cadaver dogs, divers, aircraft, underwater technological devices and a host of volunteers aided law enforcement in the search.
Sills on last week partially limited the search to the shoreline, excluding the use of divers and dogs.
The size of the 19,000-acre Lake Oconee, and rainy weather, presented challenges for authorities as they hunted for Jones.
At this point law enforcement officials don’t suspect foul play in the deaths of either techer.
