The body of a missing Oconee County man was found Tuesday and his brother-in-law was arrested in connection with his death, the sheriff’s office said.
“It is a homicide,” Oconee Sheriff Scott Berry said in a Facebook post after authorities found the body of 42-year-old Chad Ruark.
Authorities found the body near his home on Carson Graves Road — an area where authorities had conducted multiple searches after Ruark went missing.
Ruark had not been in contact with family members since Feb. 23. In a March 1 Facebook post, Berry urged Ruark to call him personally.
Members of the Ruark family “have been cornerstones in Oconee County for generations,” he said a few days later. “We all know them.”
The day before rescuers found the body, Berry announced a $2,000 reward for information about Ruark’s whereabouts. When several K9 search and rescue teams returned Tuesday to the Carson Graves Road area near Ruark’s residence “to rule out that he is here,” their worst fears were realized, Berry said.
“We held out hope that Chad would come home safely,” Berry said. “We now know that will not happen.”
Daniel Anglin, 36, was arrested on a murder charge in connection with Ruark’s death. Anglin and Ruark are brothers-in-law.
“We will not be releasing motive or other specifics at this time,” Berry said. “Please, please, please consider that a family is devastated and that two sets of children don’t have their father coming home.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist Ruark's family with funeral expenses.
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