Search continues for missing Cornelia businessman

DANIELSVILLE - A Banks County man is being held on drug and auto theft charges after authorities said they linked him to the vehicle of a missing northeast Georgia businessman.

A search continued Thursday for Phillip ``Bobby'' Fain, 61, of Cornelia, who disappeared Tuesday night.

``It doesn't look too good,'' said John Bankhead of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Patrick Cagle, 29, remained jailed in Madison County. Police said they found nearly an ounce of cocaine and $2,000 on Cagle when he was arrested Wednesday in Hull, a small community between Athens and Danielsville.

Fain was last seen in the White County town of Cleveland, where an adult daughter lives. He had a cell phone conversation with a friend about 7 p.m. Tuesday and has not been heard from since.

Authorities tracked his SUV to Madison County through a Global Positioning System. Madison County Chief Deputy Bill Strickland said that SUV and a pickup stolen from a Cornelia car dealership were found at Cagle's sister's house in Hull. Cagle was arrested four hours later after a search of nearby woods.

Fain is owner of SelectTel Communications, which develops cellular phone tower sites. He also owns and drives race cars, fielding cars in the NASCAR All-Pro Tour Series.