Body of Missing Habersham Man Discovered in Stephens

The body of a Habersham man reported missing last Wednesday was found this weekend in Stephens County.

Tony Quinnion Mooney, 26, was reported as having last been seen at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday near the Stephens County line. A post made on Friday on the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page said Mooney was believed to be on foot and was said to be in an “ altered mental state” and the public was advised to call 911 with any information, and not to approach Mooney. 

On Saturday morning, Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies and Stephens County Search and Rescue started a ground search for Mooney at around 7:30 a.m. off of Rock Road, with K-9 and drone assistance.

Stephen County Chief Deputy Coroner Lee Woody told WNEG News that, at around 9 a.m. Sergeant Michael Vice and his K9 bloodhound ‘Lady’ located a piece of clothing in the wooded area off Georgia Highway 365, and shortly after 10 a.m. Vice and ‘Lady,’ along with Deputy Ryan Brown and Sergeant Douglas Marcus, found Mooney’s body.

Woody said the body will be transported to the GBI crime lab for an autopsy. According to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, foul play is not suspected in Mooney’s death.

Vice and ‘Lady,’ along with K9 Dexter, graduated from a nationally certified K9 handler course in February of last year. Brown completed his training to become the SCSO’s newest canine handler in November of last year 

Other agencies involved in the search included the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, White County Search and Rescue and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.