Man who went missing on Christmas Day found dead in West Point Lake
A man who went missing on Christmas Day was found dead in West Point Lake today, according to officials.
The man, Fernando Ortiz, went missing on December 25, 2025, after being seen earlier that day on Liberty Hill Road.
Officials with Troup County Sheriff’s Office, Troup County Fire Department, Troup County Emergency Management Agency, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Corp of Engineers, and AMR, conducted a search of the area by ground, aviation and boat assets and unfortunately Fernando was not located.
“Investigators with the Troup County Sheriff’s Office have continued to follow leads since Fernando was reported missing,” officials said.
On January 3, 2026 around 1:45 p.m., Fernando’s body was located in West Point Lake by a team from Georgia Emergency Search and Rescue. A cause of death has not been determined and an autopsy will be completed by the GBI.
This is an ongoing investigation.
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