Lake Lanier, Georgia, February 18, 2026
This week, authorities identified the body found in a submerged vehicle at Lake Lanier as Phillip Malone, an 85-year-old man missing since the previous day. The red Toyota Camry was discovered near Tidwell Park, prompting a multi-agency rescue response. Investigators believe Malone’s death was accidental, with no foul play suspected. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will conduct an autopsy to determine the official cause of death, as the community mourns the loss and seeks closure for the family.
Forsyth County, Georgia
The quiet waters of Lake Lanier yielded a solemn discovery this week, bringing a sorrowful resolution to a family’s search. Authorities have identified the body recovered from a submerged vehicle as Phillip Malone, an 85-year-old man who had been reported missing days prior. The car, a red Toyota Camry, was found near Tidwell Park on Monday, February 16, 2026, by a boater, initiating a multi-agency response to the scene. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has stated that no foul play is suspected in Mr. Malone’s death, indicating the incident is believed to be accidental.
The Path to Discovery
The somber sequence of events began to unfold when Mr. Malone was last seen on Sunday, February 15, 2026, in Atlanta, where he had been visiting a hospitalized family member. His family, concerned for his well-being when he failed to return to his home in Roswell and could not be reached, subsequently filed a missing person report. The search culminated on Monday morning when a boater navigating the waters near Tidwell Park spotted the partially submerged red Toyota Camry, a sight that prompted an immediate call to emergency services around 10:30 a.m.
Following the report, law enforcement and rescue teams swiftly converged on the location. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, alongside the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, coordinated efforts to access the vehicle and confirm its contents. These painstaking efforts, often carried out with quiet determination beneath the surface, are a testament to the methodical and compassionate work of first responders in moments of distress. Upon retrieval, it was confirmed that a body was indeed inside the car.
An Investigation Without Malice
The formal identification process subsequently confirmed the deceased to be Phillip Malone, an elderly man whose absence had stirred deep concern. Investigators noted that Mr. Malone was found fully clothed within the vehicle, which itself bore no apparent external damage. Furthermore, the body displayed no obvious signs of trauma, elements that collectively contributed to the preliminary assessment ruling out foul play.
While the immediate grief of this discovery settles, certain questions linger quietly in the background. Authorities currently do not possess precise information regarding the duration the vehicle had been submerged in the lake or the exact circumstances that led to its entry into the water. To ascertain the official cause of death, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is scheduled to conduct an autopsy later this week. This vital step is part of the ongoing, active investigation, which seeks to provide comprehensive answers to those touched by Mr. Malone’s passing.
A Quiet, Poignant Cadence
The identification of Phillip Malone brings a certain, albeit sorrowful, closure to a missing person case. Such moments, though marked by loss, often underscore the dedicated human endeavor to understand and to offer peace to those left to mourn. The methodical work of law enforcement, from the initial missing person report filed with the Roswell Police Department to the coordinated efforts at Lake Lanier, reflects a commitment to factual clarity and a quiet respect for the human lives interwoven with these events. In the gentle, reflective light of this outcome, the community holds in thought the family of Mr. Malone, who now navigate the landscape of grief with the knowledge of his final resting place. This event, devoid of sensationalism, stands as a poignant reminder of the unpredictable turns life can take and the quiet dignity with which these realities are faced.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was identified in the submerged car in Lake Lanier?
- The body found in the submerged car in Lake Lanier was identified as 85-year-old Phillip Malone.
- Where exactly was the car found in Lake Lanier?
- The car was found in Lake Lanier near Tidwell Park.
- When was the car recovered from Lake Lanier?
- The submerged car was recovered from Lake Lanier on Monday, February 16, 2026.
- Is foul play suspected in Phillip Malone’s death?
- No, foul play is not suspected in Phillip Malone’s death, and the incident is believed to be accidental.
- What agencies are involved in the investigation?
- The investigation involves the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, the Roswell Police Department, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Key Details of the Lake Lanier Incident
| Detail | Description | Geographic Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Deceased Individual | Phillip Malone, 85 years old | State-level (North Carolina resident, incident in Georgia) |
| Discovery Location | Lake Lanier, near Tidwell Park | State-level (Georgia) |
| Date of Recovery | Monday, February 16, 2026 | State-level (Georgia) |
| Vehicle Type | Red Toyota Camry | N/A |
| Missing Status | Reported missing days prior from Roswell, last seen in Atlanta | State-level (Georgia) |
| Foul Play | Not suspected; believed accidental | N/A |
| Investigation Agencies | Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, Roswell Police Department, Georgia Bureau of Investigation | State-level (Georgia) |
| Ongoing Procedures | Autopsy by Georgia Bureau of Investigation to determine cause of death; investigation active | State-level (Georgia) |
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