Sunday was Jan. 11, meaning it’s been exactly two months since Gainesville native Charles Hosch disappeared while hiking a familiar trial on Blood Mountain in Union County. The Dallas attorney and adjunct law professor at SMU was on his way home from a visit with relatives and friends in Gainesville when stopped for a planned hike along the Byron Herbert Reece Trail.
A massive search was quickly launched and continues to this day, but on a much-limited scale. A website dedicated to his disappearance and the search for him continues with periodic updates about the search.
The latest post deals with a number of questions about the search effort and some of the tools that have been employed in the effort to find Hosch.
THE LATEST POST AS IT APPEARS ON THE WEBSITE:
“Our community has shown incredible support throughout this search, and we want to keep you informed. We’re sharing the following details to answer common questions, provide clarity about our efforts, as we continue working to bring Charles home.
Last Known Location:
Charles was last seen descending the Appalachian Trail by two separate witnesses near the peak of Blood Mountain. On the descent from the peak, there are three large rock shelves. He was observed on the middle shelf.
Current Search Focus:
Both Union County and volunteer teams teams are prioritizing rocky terrain where Charles 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.
Technology Being Used:
We’ve also received many questions about our search technology. 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].
We remain deeply grateful for all your support, tips, and assistance as we continue our search efforts.”