More than one week after a Mattie's Call was issued for a 71-year-old Sandy Springs man with a history of depression and other medical needs, authorities Friday lowered water levels at Bull Sluice Lake and the river above it to conduct "an intensive search" for him.
Georgia Power released water from Morgan Falls Dam to lower the levels and look for 71-year-old Gary Morris, whose vehicle was found at 1:15 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Don White Park Extension in Roswell.
“We want to search the river to really rule out that he’s not there,” said Officer Lisa Holland with the Roswell Police Department. “We don’t know if he’s there. There’s no indication he’s there. We’ve just exhausted all efforts by using the dogs, the scents, the manpower on the land.”
Rain and freezing temperatures hampered search efforts this week, she said.
“When the inclement weather came, it really ruined our searching ability,” Holland said. “The scent was lost. The conditions became kind of treacherous on foot and water. It was muddy. It was cold in the water for divers to even search.”
The National Park Service, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Roswell Fire and Rescue are involved in the latest search. Rowers and others who use Bull Sluice Lake and the river above it are urged to use caution and steer clear of rescue personnel until 6 p.m. Friday.
Morris is described as a 5-foot-6, 160-pound man with brown eyes and salt and pepper hair.
Anyone with information about Morris’ whereabouts is asked to call 770-640-4100.
“I hope we find him today,” Holland said. “I definitely would like to have the family have some closure today. It’s been awhile. We’re doing everything we can out here.”
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