Body Found in Lake Hartwell

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

The search for a South Carolina man on Lake Hartwell missing since early February may be over.

On Sunday, the body of a white male was discovered in Lake Hartwell on the Georgia side near Shoal Creek by a fisherman.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement officer Craig Fulghum said the body was discovered Sunday afternoon.

On February 11th, 64-year old Brady Hamby of West Union, South Carolina took his kayak out on Lake Hartwell from Hartwell State Park on the South Carolina side.

By late that afternoon, Hamby’s family alerted authorities when he did not return as scheduled.

His kayak was found the next day overturned on the Georgia side of Hartwell Lake near the Harbor Light Marina.

DNR rescue and dive teams from both South Carolina and Georgia searched for Hamby both on the lake and on shore for several days.

Crews also used sonar on the shore and on the lake to try and locate Hamby, but had to give up the search because of the winter weather passing through the area.

The search picked up again on Friday and continued Saturday.

Fulghum said the body is that of a white male, but authorities are waiting for positive identification.

The body was sent to the GBI Crime Lab for an autopsy and to determine a positive ID.

Fulghum said Hamby’s family has been notified.