Professor Who Disappeared on Hike Remains Missing and Search Was Suspended

The search for a missing law professor has been suspended two weeks after he disappeared during a hike in Georgia on Veterans Day.

Charles Hosch, 67, has been missing since Nov. 11, according to a previous news release shared by the Union County Sheriff’s Office. His last known location was the Byron Herbert Reece Trail near Blood Mountain.

The law professor was last seen “descending from the top of Blood Mountain,” according to the website for his law firm, Hosch & Morris, PLLC.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office announced on Nov. 21 that search teams on the ground had been “scaled back” to allow specialized K-9 teams to track clues. 

In an update shared on Monday, Nov. 24, the professor’s law firm announced that authorities have “paused its active search operations while awaiting new information or clues.”

“This does not mark the end of the search,” the firm stated on its website, “the case remains active, and search and rescue personnel will continue to pursue any new clues or credible information that arises.”

Julia Hosch-Singh, the professor’s daughter, expressed hope that her father will eventually be found, according to ABC affiliate WSB.

“My dad is extraordinary, and if anyone can figure out how to find shelter and find water and stay alive, it is still very much a possibility,” she said.

Speaking with CBS affiliate KTVT, Hosch-Singh said she has been leaning on her father’s favorite Bible verses since he vanished.

“We remain grateful and hopeful,” Hosch-Singh said. “While today may close this first chapter with the incredible Union County team, it does not end our search for Dad. We will share what next steps will entail soon.”

Hosch’s firm described him as a Harvard Law School graduate who has “dedicated more than three decades to mentoring law students at SMU Dedman School of Law and has been a cornerstone of our legal community.”

He is also “a former Eagle Scout who has volunteered with the Scouts for years” and teaches Sunday school at University Park United Methodist Church, according to his firm. 

Hosch has been married to his wife Beth, whom he met in college, for 42 years, and recently became a grandpa for the first time.

“To his peers and students alike, he is not only an exceptional attorney and teacher, but a wonderful friend whose unwavering reliability and warmth have touched countless lives,” Hosch’s firm said on its website.

Hosch & Morris said its own search efforts “will continue” in the meantime, noting that they “are planning the next phase and will share details as they develop.” 

“We are forever indebted to the search and rescue teams who navigated treacherous terrain in challenging conditions with heroism, skill, and tireless dedication,” the law firm said. “Their commitment to finding Charles has been nothing short of remarkable, and we will be always grateful for their courage and compassion.”

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Anyone with information about Hosch’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Union County Emergency Operations Center at (706) 439-6091 or call 911.