Teens found dead on 5th day of search in NE Georgia creek

Two teenagers who were the subject of a massive five-day search in a northeast Georgia creek were found dead Tuesday, officials said.

The bodies of Bryant Wade and Cameron Smith were found shortly after 11 a.m., Oconee County sheriff’s chief deputy Lee Reems said during an afternoon news conference. One was under logs. The other was 100 yards away, partially buried under an unknown object.

The bodies of Bryant Wade and Cameron Smith were found shortly after 11 a.m., Oconee County sheriff’s chief deputy Lee Reems (center) said during an afternoon news conference. He was joined by Capt. James Hale (left) and EMA director C.J. Worden. ASIA BURNS / ABURNS@AJC.COM

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Witnesses said Wade, 18, of Oconee County, was walking on the dam overlooking flood-swollen Barber Creek when he fell in Friday. Smith, 18, of Madison County, jumped in to try to save him.

The recent high school graduates did not know each other, according to reports.

A search crew of nearly 200 people from local and state agencies expanded the search to the Middle Oconee River on Tuesday morning.

MORE: Search to continue Tuesday for missing teens in NE Georgia river

The teens were found about a quarter-mile from where they were last seen Friday, Reems said.

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