Atlanta, Georgia – The body of a missing Atlanta teacher and coach, Gary Jones, has been recovered from Lake Oconee in Georgia. Jones disappeared last month while boating on the popular tourist lake southeast of Atlanta. His body was found in about 45 feet of water, not far from where his fiancée, Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Wilson, was discovered dead shortly after they went missing on Feb. 8.

Jones’ body was located by search-and-recovery expert Keith Cormican, who utilized sophisticated underwater sonar in the search efforts. Jones, a teacher and coach at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, was known for his dedication to his students and colleagues. The empty boat was found circling in the water, prompting a thorough search of the lake.

Authorities had previously obtained video footage of Wilson and Jones launching their boat from a marina before their disappearance. The area where Jones’ body was recovered is near a dam that separates Lake Oconee from Lake Sinclair, featuring underwater timber from when the Oconee River basin was flooded to create the lake many years ago.

Search efforts included the use of a cadaver dog, government vessels, private boats, helicopters, and underwater sonar to search parts of the lake up to a depth of 80 feet. Jones had been a valued member of the Westminster community since 2002, serving as a middle school science teacher, basketball coach, and head of the track and field program.

Westminster President Keith Evans expressed the profound impact Jones had on the school community, stating that his legacy will be remembered far beyond the boundaries of their campus. Wilson, a math instructor at Spelman College, was also known for her impactful contributions to her students and colleagues, as acknowledged by the college in a statement.

Singer and rapper CeeLo Green paid tribute to Wilson on social media, mourning her tragic passing and emphasizing that no one should meet such a fate. The recovery of Jones’ body brings closure to a heartbreaking chapter for both families and communities involved in this tragedy.