Atlanta teacher's body found a month after he disappeared on a Georgia lake, sheriff says

The body of Gary Jones, an Atlanta teacher and coach, has been recovered from Lake Oconee, approximately one month after he and his fiancée, Joycelyn Wilson, went missing during a boating outing. Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills confirmed the discovery occurred on Sunday, stating that Jones' body was found in roughly 45 feet of water. This location is near where Wilson's body was retrieved shortly after their disappearance on February 8.

Jones' body was located using advanced underwater sonar technology by Keith Cormican, a search-and-recovery expert brought in by Jones' family over the weekend. Their boat was previously found adrift on the lake, leading to an extensive search operation involving various resources.

Both Jones and Wilson were last seen launching their boat from a marina, having been staying at a hotel nearby. The sheriff's office noted that they had obtained video footage of the couple before their disappearance, and search efforts included a cadaver dog, government vessels, private boats, and even a helicopter.

The area where Jones' body was discovered is about three miles from a dam dividing Lake Oconee from Lake Sinclair. The lake's terrain includes underwater timber remnants from the original Oconee River basin, which was submerged decades ago to create the lake.

Jones worked as a teacher and track and field coach at the prestigious Westminster Schools in Atlanta. The tragic events surrounding their disappearance and recovery have deeply impacted the local community.