On November 11, 2025, Charles Hosch, a Dallas attorney, SMU law professor, and Gainesville native went missing after setting out to hike on the Byron Herbert Reece Trail in Union County. That means it’s now been six months since he was last seen. Hosch stopped to hike the trail, a place he was familiar with since he hiked during his youth, on his drive back to Dallas after a visit to Gainesville.
According to bringcharliehome.com, he was last seen by two separate witnesses descending the Appalachian Trail from the top of Blood Mountain near the peak of Blood Mountain. On the descent from the peak, there are three large rock shelves. He was spotted on the middle shelf.
But the arrival of spring and the foliage that comes with it, search conditions have grown markedly more difficult.
Nevertheless, the website says, friend, relatives, and co-workers remain devoted to “bringing Charlie home.”
Now, here is the latest as of Monday morning as posted on bringcharliehome.com:
“Current Search Focus:
Both Union County and volunteer teams are prioritizing rocky terrain where he may have fallen, including areas where he could have crawled under boulders or into caves. Search dogs have provided indications both near the lower rock shelves on the Appalachian Trail and lower on the mountain along the Freeman Trail. However, the rocky terrain presents challenges for the dogs: wind carries scent in unpredictable ways through the cliffs and boulders, making it difficult to determine a clear direction. We are also searching drainage areas, primarily south of the Freeman Trail.
Why Haven’t We Found Charles Yet?
Many have wondered why, despite such extensive search efforts, we haven’t been able to locate Charles. If you hike on Blood Mountain, this question answers itself. The terrain is extremely challenging—dense brush and thick rhododendron cover obscure the ground, while boulders, cliffs, and rocky outcroppings create countless hidden spaces. Even now, teams continue to discover items like boots and hiking poles in unexpected locations, concealed beneath vegetation or tucked into crevices that are difficult to see. The mountain’s rugged landscape means that much of the terrain remains obscured and hard to search thoroughly, despite everyone’s best efforts.
Question of Foul Play
Authorities have found no indication of foul play. As is standard in all missing persons cases, the investigation remains open and all possibilities are being evaluated until evidence provides conclusive answers.
Technology Being Used:
Currently, we are using:
- CalTopo app for mapping and coordinating search areas
- Bluehound app, which can detect Bluetooth signals from up to 300 feet away. We’ve been informed that Charles’s car key fob would remain detectable by this technology for up to two years.
We have used drone and analytical tools in previous searches as well.
Regarding Charles’s iPhone: We do not know the exact status of Charles’s iPhone at the time he went missing. Data from Charles’ vehicle reported that his phone was plugged in during his drive. In the first days after he went missing, calls to his phone would not connect or go to voicemail—instead, there were three brief tones before the line would go dead. We have worked with AT&T, Apple, Google, and other providers in attempts to locate him through his device, and these efforts have been unsuccessful. We believe his phone may not have been charging properly despite being plugged in, and was likely dead when he went missing, which would explain why we haven’t been able to use it to locate him. Ultimately, law enforcement is looking into the matter.
Ongoing Search Efforts:
Committed official teams from Union County continue searching for Charles. Volunteer teams are supporting these efforts and working diligently whenever conditions allow. Visibility is currently optimal before leaves return to the trees in April, though winter weather will affect the timing and effectiveness of search operations.
How to Help:
If you were hiking on Blood Mountain on November 11, 2025, especially between 1:30 PM and 5:00 PM, please come forward. Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could be crucial to our search efforts.
If you have any information regarding Charles’s whereabouts, please contact the Union County Emergency Operations Center at (706) 439-6091. If you are in Union County, Georgia, you may also dial 911.
Our partners are 501c3 organizations invited by Union County. If you are part of such a professional search organization interested in volunteering your services, please contact [email protected].
The search continues with professional teams and committed volunteers pressing on. We are grateful for every person who has joined this effort.”