6/4/26 FACEBOOK POST:
Joshua “Josh” [Last Name Omitted], a young man from Jackson County, Georgia, was known by family and friends as kind, athletic, and deeply family-oriented. Growing up with his parents and two older sisters, Josh spent his childhood exploring the forests and creeks around his home, fishing with cousins, catching crawfish, and enjoying the outdoors. His close bond with his family was evident in the small gestures of his life—he called his mother nearly every morning and had a tattoo on his foot honoring his beloved niece, Ava. Friends remember him as sociable, dependable, and always willing to help those close to him.
On May 19, 2013, Josh spoke with a friend and mentioned he was in Athens, Georgia, with a man known only as “Pork Chop.” The details of that meeting remain unclear. The following morning, May 20, 2013, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Josh made a call to a man named Tony. While Tony later spoke with police, he declined to reveal what was said during that conversation. Later that day, Josh cashed a $400 personal check, which had reportedly been taken from his parents. That afternoon, his cell phone pinged in the area of West Broad Street in Athens, Georgia, marking the last confirmed location of his communications.
On May 21, 2013, Josh’s 2009 Chevrolet Malibu was discovered abandoned in a pasture off Brockton Loop in Jefferson, Georgia. Inside the car were his keys, wallet, ID, cell phone, and $25 in cash, but authorities did not find any signs of a struggle or foul play in or around the vehicle. Concerned by his sudden disappearance, Josh’s father reported him missing later that day.
In the days that followed, extensive ground and aerial searches were conducted in the areas surrounding where Josh’s car had been found. On May 24, 2013, investigators discovered a pair of Josh’s shoes neatly lined up near a nearby pond, along with a hypodermic needle. Cadaver dogs were deployed to search the pond and surrounding property, including wells, but no additional evidence or trace of Josh was recovered. On May 29, 2013, authorities drained the pond in an effort to locate Josh or any items connected to his disappearance, but the search yielded no results.
Investigators continued following leads over the following years. On May 25, 2018, authorities visited a home in Hull, Georgia, based on a tip. While three people were arrested on unrelated drug charges, no evidence connected to Josh or his disappearance was uncovered. Shortly thereafter, another tip led authorities to an abandoned farmhouse in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Investigators used a camera to examine a well on the property, but nothing relevant was found. The individual providing this tip later changed her story multiple times, further complicating the investigation.
As of today, Josh remains missing, more than nine years after his disappearance, and no concrete leads have surfaced. His family has continued to advocate for answers, maintaining hope that Josh might be found or that justice will be served for whoever is responsible. In a show of continued commitment, his family has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Josh’s safe return or to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for his disappearance.
Josh’s disappearance remains an active investigation, with authorities urging anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward. Friends and family continue to hold out hope, remembering him for his warmth, loyalty, and love for his family and community, and the case remains a source of deep heartache for all who knew him.