Urgent search underway for missing Macedonia man, Daniel Johnson

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. - Authorities are searching for Daniel Johnson, a 60-year-old man from the Macedonia community, who has been reported missing since Wednesday afternoon.

What we know:

Johnson was last seen around 4 p.m. on Aug. 20 at his home in the Hampton Station subdivision, off Cumming Highway. 

Johnson was last seen at his house Wednesday morning, and his car was spotted pulling back into the driveway around 4 p.m. that day. Since then, there has been no sign of him. His phone and vehicle were left at the home, raising concerns among investigators.

"The fact that those items are still at the house is a serious concern to investigators at this point," Captain Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies say Johnson was known to take long hikes, which is why search efforts have focused heavily on the wooded areas behind his subdivision. Crews have used drones, K-9s, and foot patrols to comb the area.

Health issues add to the urgency of finding Johnson. Investigators are also checking to see if his credit card has been used recently

Johnson is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 215 pounds.

What they're saying:

Baker noted that while most missing persons are found within 24 hours, Johnson’s case is unusual. "It's concerning. I mean, typically people don't go anywhere without their phones unless they don't want be found or maybe they forgot it. But usually that's one of the ways we're able to find people that have gone missing is through their phone," Baker said. "The fact that his car's there means either he's on foot and he's got into a car with somebody else or he's been taken. We just don't know."

Baker said the terrain is difficult. "We've done drone searches. We've had canines go out and search the area, and our detectives and our deputies have been out walking the woods or behind the neighborhood. But it's a pretty vast area. There's a lot of different ways he could have gone."

Baker said the most effective way to locate him is help from the community.

"We've reached out to the neighborhood. Anybody to please check their surveillance cameras if they see him walking on there in front of their home. Any time between 4 p.m. or 1 a.m. Wednesday to Thursday, please call us," Baker said. "So we're hoping that maybe the public will see something, maybe they have seen something and they'll come forward."

Why you should care:

Concerns for his safety are heightened because of health issues that could affect his well-being. 

What we don't know:

Investigators are following up on several leads, but his whereabouts remain unknown.

What you can do:

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have seen Johnson in the past 48 hours or who has information about his disappearance to call a dedicated hotline at 770-501-8987.