On December 25, 2025, the Troup County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing person, Fernando Ortiz, who was last seen on Liberty Hill Road earlier that day.
With the assistance of the Troup County Fire Department, Troup County Emergency Management Agency, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Corp of Engineers, and AMR, a search of the area was conducted by ground, aviation and boat assets and unfortunately Fernando was not located.
On January 3, 2026, around 1:45 p.m., Fernando’s body was located in West Point Lake by a team from Rapid Compassion Collective. A cause of death has not been determined, and an autopsy will be completed by the GBI. This is an ongoing investigation, nothing further at this time.
