PHOTOS: Officials search Lake Oconee for missing boater Gary Jones

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The search for missing Westminster Schools track and field coach Gary Jones intensified on Lake Oconee Wednesday, days after the body of his boating companion, Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson, was found. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office has taken over the investigation into her death.

Volunteers with Emergency Dive Response Team search Lake Oconee in Eatonton on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and volunteers are searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over the weekend. The body of Wilson was found Sunday and Jones has not been found.(Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills steers a boat onto Lake Oconee in Eatonton on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and volunteers are searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and an Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over the weekend. The body of Wilson was found Sunday and Jones has not been found.(Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills steers a boat on Lake Oconee in Eatonton on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and volunteers are searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and an Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over the weekend. The body of Wilson was found Sunday and Jones has not been found.(Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Volunteers and law enforcement appear on Lake Oconee in Eatonton on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and volunteers are searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and an Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over the weekend. The body of Wilson was found Sunday and Jones has not been found.(Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Volunteer searchers are seen at Lake Oconee in Eatonton on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and volunteers are searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over the weekend. The body of Wilson was found Sunday and Jones has not been found.(Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Volunteer diver Dexter Galloway pulls into a dock at Lake Oconee in Eatonton on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and volunteers are searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson an Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over the weekend. The body of Wilson was found Sunday and Jones has not been found.(Arvin Temkar / AJC)

A search and rescue vehicle is seen at Lake Oconee in Eatonton on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and volunteers are searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over the weekend. The body of Wilson was found Sunday and Jones has not been found.(Arvin Temkar / AJC)

View from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office boat as officials search for Gary Jones, a track and field coach at the Westminster Schools missing since Saturday. ( Joe Kovac Jr. / joe.kovac@ajc.com)

Spelman College Senior Instructor Joycelyn Wilson (right) was found dead Sunday after a boat was seen circling Lake Oconee, officials said. She was on the boat with Gary Jones (left), a track and field coach at Westminster Schools.

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills speaks on the phone from a sheriff's office boat on Lake Oconee Thursday. ( Joe Kovac Jr. / joe.kovac@ajc.com)

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills speaks with officers with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on Thursday as they search Lake Oconee. ( Joe Kovac Jr. / joe.kovac@ajc.com)

A group of volunteers with the Emergency Dive Response Team gathered Thursday morning to help search for missing Westminster Schools coach Gary Jones.

A group of volunteers with the Emergency Dive Response Team set out onto Lake Oconee on Thursday morning to help search for missing Westminster Schools coach Gary Jones.

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Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Volunteers with Emergency Dive Response Team search Lake Oconee in Eatonton on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The Putnam County sheriff is investigating and volunteers are searching after Spelman College instructor Joycelyn Nicole Wilson and Atlanta private school coach Gary Jones went missing on Lake Oconee over the weekend. The body of Wilson was found Sunday and Jones has not been found.(Arvin Temkar / AJC)

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