Authorities Search for Missing Man

Lexington County Sheriff’s Department detectives are seeking help from the public in finding Michael Jody George, a 22-year-old West Columbia man who was reported missing to the Sheriff’s Department on Christmas Day.

George, of 4029 Edmund Highway, was last seen Christmas Eve, when he was out drinking with an acquaintance, said Lexington County Sheriff James Metts.

"George's relatives told detectives that it is out of character for George to remain out of contact with relatives on Christmas Day and for George to remain out of contact with relatives for a long period of time," Metts said.

George is 6 feet tall and weighs 135 pounds, Metts said. He has brown hair and hazel eyes (see photo).

George’s brother, John Olin Wannamaker, contacted the Sheriff’s Department at 2:37 p.m. on Sunday and reported that George was missing, Metts said. Wannamaker told deputies that he last spoke with his brother at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 23 at George’s home.

George’s father, Gary Frederick George, contacted the Sheriff’s Department at about 8:15 p.m. on Sunday and reported that he found Michael George’s 1994 black Nissan Sentra parked on Beckman Road between Cannaberry Drive and Lena Drive near West Columbia, Metts said. 

Deputies and detectives conducted a ground search on Sunday and ground and aerial searches using a helicopter on Monday in the area where George's car was found. The searches did not generate any leads concerning George’s whereabouts, Metts said.

According to Metts, detectives determined that George became highly intoxicated on Christmas Eve while drinking at a bar on Charleston Highway near Cayce.

George and a 33-year-old Swansea man, who is an acquaintance of George, reportedly left Shooters bar at 3030 Charleston Highway at about 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Metts said. The 33-year-old man drove George to the man’s home near Swansea. George, Metts said, later left the man's home, and has not been seen since.

Metts asked anyone with information concerning Michael George or his whereabouts to call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department immediately at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.