A $10,000 reward is being offered for information in the missing person’s case of Ware County resident Austin James Wise, who was reported missing May 29, 2017.
Ware County Sheriff Carl James said in an effort to encourage a new lead in the eight-year long investigation, a “concerned citizen” has arranged for the reward. Sheriff James said the money will go to the first person who provides information leading the current whereabouts of Wise, or, if unfortunately, he’s died, for information leading to the location and/or recovery of his remains. “As the eightyear anniversary of Austin’s disappearance nears, it continues to sadden me that his family has yet to have the knowledge as to what became of their beloved son and family member,” Sheriff James said in announcing the reward. “It’s my hope that, due to the generosity of the ‘concerned citizen’ who donated the $10,000 reward for information, someone will come forward with useful information that will help give the detectives that muchneeded tip to solve this case.
“I cannot relay my thanks enough to the ‘concerned citizen’ for putting up these reward funds, as it may be the final encouragement needed for someone to finally call in with the definitive, needed lead.”
Wise was 24 years old when first reported missing from the 3900 block of Griffin Road in Ware County by a family member. He hasn’t been heard from by family since then.
Wise, a white male, would now be 32 years old.
At the time he went missing, he was about five feet, five inches tall and weighed about 150 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. Wise was reportedly last seen wearing a T-shirt, blue jeans, and white shoes (although his shoes may have been gray/black Nike Jordan-style shoes).
Wise had reportedly departed the Griffin Road residence about 7 a.m. Saturday, May 27, 2017 after a family member was scheduled to pick him up. Wise, however, was not at the pickup location when the family member arrived.
Sheriff James said the agency’s primary goal always has been simply trying to discover Wise’s whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
Since the initial report, an aerial search by the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Division helicopter(s) and WCSO Detectives has been conducted in the area that Austin was last seen and other areas as well — on two separate occasions. Additionally, WCSO staff have searched the wooded area on foot, with ATVs, and with cadaver search dogs multiple times.
Detectives have alsohave obtained numerous search warrants for various records since the man’s disappearance. Multiple state and federal agencies, including the GBI and the FBI, have been consulted and contacted for various expertise through the eight year-long investigation.
Additionally, detectives have conducted hundreds of interviews with witnesses and family members in the quest for information. They continue to follow every lead available and seek the cooperation of the public in the case.
If anyone has information concerning Wise and/or his disappearance, please contact the WCSO’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) office at (912) 2874327 or the Ware County Dispatch Center non-emergency line at (912) 287-4335.
People with information related to the case can leave their name or remain anonymous. They can also call the WCSO tip line at (912) 287-TIPS(8477) or send an electronic tip message via the internet at waresheriff.com (click on the “tip line” button).
