Rescue teams are still searching for a Dallas lawyer, who has been missing on the Appalachian Trail for nearly a week.
Charles Hosch, lawyer at Hosch & Morris and law professor at Southern Methodist University, went missing on November 11 near the Blood Mountain Wilderness Area in Union County, Georgia.
“We’re still actively searching,” said Union County Sheriff Shawn Dyer to The Dallas Express. “Just be praying for the family, and praying for Mr. Hosch.”
Responders have been performing the search and rescue operation since the afternoon of November 12, according to Hosch’s firm.
The effort involves dozens of trained officers, specialized K-9 units, aerial support from helicopters and drones, as well as advanced technology and tracking systems.
“We’re really pleased with the turnout that we’ve had with people that come to help look, they went above and beyond in some of their areas,” Dyer said. “Of course our guys are getting tired, but they’re still wanting to search, so we’re going to continue that as long as possible.”
The sheriff’s office said Hosch was still missing just before 1 p.m. on November 17. Officials also asked members of the public to continue praying for him, his family, and those who have been searching for him.
Hosch stands 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighs around 200 pounds, and has white hair and glasses. He was last seen in khaki pants, a camel-colored sweater, and a dark green jacket. The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information to call the Emergency Operations Center at 706-439-6091.
November 14, K-9s indicated a place where Hosch likely went on the Byron Herbert Reece Trail. The next day, the search efforts vastly expanded around the clock.
On the evening of November 15, a credible source reported speaking with Hosch as he was descending from the top of Blood Mountain the previous afternoon, on November 11. Responders called off helicopter operations after extensive aerial coverage, but ground and drone operations continued.
That day, the sheriff’s office asked hunters in the county to share any footage from trail cameras in the area, as it could provide “critical information” to find Hosch.
On November 16, more than 90 people were in the field searching for Hosch, according to Dyers. He called the response “impressive,” and said volunteers have also been helping.
“It’s very rough terrain,” Dyers said. “Very rough and rugged terrain, very steep – a lot of thickets, some people have to crawl through them.”
That day, K-9 units, drones, and more than 95 searchers continued to track Hosch down.
“Eventually, if we don’t have any luck, we’ll probably be scaling back, reevaluating, and trying to decide what else we may need to do to make sure we’ve covered all the bases,” Dyers said.
Hosch has hiked the trail multiple times throughout his life, growing up in nearby Gainesville, according to his firm’s website.
“Charles is a creature of habit,” the website reads. “We believe that he intended to hike down Blood Mountain but lost his way… We will bring him home.”
Hosch’s family, his church, and others at SMU Dedman School of Law are hoping for his safe return, according to the website. He met his wife Beth in college, and they have been married for 42 years.
“Those who have worked with Charles or sat in his classroom know him as more than a brilliant legal mind – he is a genuinely kind and profoundly sincere person who approaches every challenge and every individual with wisdom and generosity,” the website reads. “He is not only an exceptional attorney and teacher, but a wonderful friend whose unwavering reliability and warmth have touched countless lives.”
