Fernando Ortiz, 34, was found dead on Jan. 3, 2026 after being reported missing on Christmas Day 2025 (Troup County Sheriff's Office).
TROUP COUNTY, Ga. - A Troup County man who disappeared on Christmas Day has been found dead, according to authorities.
The backstory:
Fernando Ortiz was last seen alive on Liberty Hill Road on Dec. 25. Multiple agencies, including the Troup County Sheriff's Office, Troup County Fire Department, Troup County Emergency Management Agency, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Corp of Engineers, and AMR searched the area, but did not locate the 34-year-old man.
What we know:
At around 1:45 p.m. Saturday, deputies say Fernando’s body was located in West Point Lake by a team from Georgia Emergency Search and Rescue. On Sunday, the sheriff's office issued an additional statement on social media thanking other "individual search groups" who were assisting in the search.
What we don't know:
A cause of death has not been determined.
What's next:
An autopsy will be completed by the GBI.
The Source: Information released by the Troup County Sheriff's Office.