Authorities suspended the formal search for missing hiker Charles Hosch last week after the exhaustive effort failed to produce any definitive information beyond what was known around the start of the effort.
The all-hands-on-deck mission lasted from Wednesday, Nov. 12, through the evening of Monday, Nov. 24, spanning 13 days and including hundreds of first responders combing the area he went missing near the Byron Herbert Reece Trailhead.
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Hosch disappeared on Tuesday, Nov. 11, while hiking in the well-traversed Blood Mountain area of the Appalachian Trail. A credible witness reported having spoken with Hosch on the trail that day, but searchers could not locate him or any trace of him after nearly two weeks of looking.
Searchers did not find a single piece of verifiable evidence regarding Hosch’s whereabouts after he was last seen, despite the assistance of drones, helicopters, various specialized dog teams, and agencies from the federal, state and local levels as well as surrounding states.
With all leads exhausted and no new direction in which to hunt for Hosch, the Union County Sheriff’s Office and Union County Fire & Emergency Management Agency made the call to suspend the effort, marking the evening of Nov. 24 as the “last full operational period.”
“We have paused operations as of Nov. 25,” the agencies said in a joint statement. “There will be no major operations until we have more definitive information or indications that point us into a different direction or area to search.
“If information becomes available to Union County Emergency Management or the Union County Sherriff’s Office as to the location of Mr. Hosch, the information will be evaluated with our complete attention and searchers sent to any location that the information suggests.
“Some areas, which may be new or that have already been searched, may be searched to continue to rule those areas out and to keep a continued presence in the search area.
“We are extremely thankful for all the assistance that we have received in this search and for all those who offered assistance. We are also grateful for the support from everyone during this stressful and difficult event.”
Searchers analyzed over two dozen potential scenarios to help them investigate what might have happened to Hosch, including but not limited to the possibility of an accident, medical emergency, animal attack, foul play, and having willingly left the area without telling anyone.
There is simply no evidence to say what actually occurred.
Concerning the latter two scenarios, investigators have zero reasons to suspect foul play at this time or that Hosch secretively fled the area; his financial accounts remain unused since his disappearance, and no one has been checking his email or using his cellphone or other devices.
“Us looking into his private information, nothing has been accessed,” Sheriff Dyer said. “What we have found out, he’s just a fine man – a professor, an attorney and a devoted family man. We have no reason to believe he’d just want to vanish.”
Hosch’s mysterious disappearance has left searchers troubled; they want to find him and learn what happened. If Hosch is still in the mountain wilderness, it is extremely unlikely he would be alive at this point, but investigators don’t want to presume his death.
As communicated to Hosch’s family and friends, Sheriff Dyer said the case remains very much open and active – authorities just need more information to resume the search.
“Hopefully, we’ll get some answers soon,” Dyer said. “We exhausted every lead, every clue – we’ve done everything we can. When something else pops up and we get something to go off of, then we’ll go that route. Right now, we’re just looking for a clue or a direction to go.”
Sheriff Dyer commends the Union County Fire Department, which helmed daily operations, on its diligent search efforts: “They’re one of the most professional search and rescue groups in North Georgia, no doubt. They’ve done a really good job and put a lot of resources into this.”
For his part, Union County EMA Director & Fire Chief David Dyer, who commanded the massive operation from Fire Station No. 1, reiterated that the pause in the search was not the end of the story.
“I want to say how proud I am of all the searchers, staff, and support personnel who were and are involved in this search,” Chief Dyer said. “They have worked tirelessly during these long days. We are still committed to the effort and hope that more information becomes available.”
After the search was suspended, the family and friends of Hosch launched a website, https://www.bringcharleshome.com/, promising to “relentlessly continue searching for Charles.”
“We will not stop searching. We will bring Charles home,” the ongoing effort promises.
Toward that end, the private search effort offered an update on Saturday: “The momentum continues. We’ve welcomed another nonprofit search and rescue organization to our efforts, and by Monday, we’ll have expanded teams in the field.”
Hosch is a native of Gainesville, Georgia, who made a career as a prominent attorney and professor in Dallas, Texas. He is a partner in the law firm Hosch & Morris and teaches law at Southern Methodist University.
For more information about Hosch and how to help the family continue its search, please visit the website.
