Body of Missing Atlanta Teacher Found in Lake Oconee After Boating Trip

PUTNAM COUNTY, Ga. — The body of Gary Jones, an Atlanta teacher and coach, was recovered from Lake Oconee on March 9, a month after he and his fiancée, Joycelyn Wilson, disappeared during a boating trip. Their initial outing took place on February 8, which was also the day of Jones’ 50th birthday celebration.

Local authorities reported that Jones’ body was found approximately 75 to 100 yards from where Wilson’s body was discovered a day later. Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills confirmed that Jones was located around noon in about 45 feet of water, using advanced underwater sonar technology.

“We had a tremendous search effort,” Sills told reporters. “This is the largest use of resources I can recall for an incident in the past 40 years on Lakes Oconee and Sinclair.”

Following the couple’s disappearance, they were initially believed to have fallen overboard after their boat was found adrift near the lake’s dam. Wilson’s body was recovered shortly thereafter, along with some of Jones’ personal items, including his shoes and wallet.

Jones’ family enlisted the help of search-and-recovery expert Keith Cormican from Wisconsin, who played a crucial role in locating the body using sonar technology. Cormican, who has extensive experience, including recovering drowning victims, expressed relief at the outcome, though it came with deep sadness.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the couple had been staying at a hotel close to the lake prior to their boat trip, which raised concerns when they failed to return. Sheriff Sills noted that video footage confirmed Jones and Wilson launched their boat from a local marina.

In the weeks following their disappearance, the search included aerial units, diving teams, and cadaver dogs from multiple states, all utilized in the effort to locate the two. However, adverse weather frequently interrupted search operations.

Westminster Schools President Keith Evans described Jones as an inspiring figure, highlighting his dedication to his students as a middle school science teacher and track and field coach since joining the school in 2002. “Gary’s legacy is profound, and his impact will be felt beyond our campus,” Evans stated in a touching tribute.

Wilson, a math instructor at Spelman College, also left a significant mark on her students and peers at the institution. Following her passing, friends and colleagues mourned her loss, with one friend noting that, “no one deserves to perish in that fashion.”

Sheriff Sills indicated that while the cause of Jones’ death is still under investigation, initial findings suggest the likely result of a boating accident. “All evidence at this time suggests that,” he affirmed.