12:30 P.M. TUESDAY UPDATE:
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office provided more information about the case about noon Tuesday.
“During the investigation, the Roswell Police Department confirmed that Mr. Malone had been reported
missing,” spokeswoman Stacie Miller wrote in an email. “He was last seen on Saturday, February 14, 2026, while visiting family at Emory Hospital in Atlanta. A missing person report was filed the following day.
“The Hall County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team assisted with the recovery of the vehicle, along with Jackson
Towing. Mr. Malone was located deceased inside the vehicle. He was fully clothed and showed no
obvious signs of trauma. The vehicle did not display any apparent damage. The Roswell Police
Department notified the next of kin.”
10:15 A.M. TUESDAY UPDATE:
The body found in a car in Lake Lanier Monday was that of a missing Roswell man
“The person was identified as 85-year-old Phillip Malone,” Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Stacie Miller said this morning.
Miller added investigators have “no idea” how long the car had been in the water and that foul play is not suspected.
The car was found by a boater Monday morning.
EARLIER STORY. POSSTED 1:55 P.M. MONDAY:
Authorities are confirming the discovery of a body inside the car found in Lake Lanier near a Forsyth County park this morning.
“Next of kin has not been notified and the case is under investigation by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office,” sheriff’sofficespokeswoman Stcie Miller said.
Earlier, Miller had confirmed the finding of the car.
“Yes there is a submerged car in the lake,” Miller wrote in an email just after noon today. “Hall County (HCSO) dive team is on the way.”
A social media post showed a red car in the water just offshore from Tidwell Park. It wasn’t clear, though, what the make and model was.
Tidwell Park is at the end of Pilgrim Mill Road.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a developing story that will be updated as more information is released.)