Body of Missing Franklin County Man Recovered

The search for a Franklin County man missing in Lincoln County ends in tragedy.  On Sunday afternoon, authorities recovered the body of 51-year-old James David “Tiger” Floyd of Lavonia.  Floyd’s body was found in a section of the Broad River known as Anthony Shoals near the Lincoln-Elbert County Line.  Major Jim Wallen is with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.  He says Floyd had been out Thursday afternoon jug fishing on his jon boat.  Wallen says he can only speculate as to how Floyd ended up in the water.

“He was for some reason or another evidently trying to recover that jug when he either leaned over too much, got off balance, whatever or fell in the water and the boat got away.  It’s just really.  Nobody saw it, so all we can do is speculate.”

Major Wallen believes Floyd tried to climb back in the boat causing it to capsize.  A search operation began Thursday evening.  A little after 2:30 on Sunday afternoon, Floyd’s body was located along the shoreline in Lincoln County.  Wallen says Floyd was not wearing a life jacket.  The body has been taken to the GBI Crime lab for a full autopsy.  Foul play is not suspected.  The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, Elbert County Public Safety Office, and the Georgia DNR worked together in the search and recovery operation.