DAWSONVILLE - The family of a missing Dawson County man reached out to the local media Wednesday, hoping to persuade the public to bring fresh leads in the case.
Quinton "Jimmy" Walls, 50, was last seen by family on Saturday, June 6. He was reported missing on Monday, June 8, the same day his empty truck was discovered near the Atlanta Tract of the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area.
The missing man's mother, Gracie Lou Walls, told reporters her son was a frequent visitor to the forest land, known locally as Lockheed, so he was familiar with the terrain. She said she and other family members have gone to the area daily as law enforcement officers continue their search.
"I've been every day except one day. I just think I gotta get in that car and go...," said Walls, her voice trailing off in tears. She said she fears her son will not come back.
Other members of the family are holding out hope. Jimmy Walls' sister Lavon Waite, said she thinks someone may know something, but they're afraid to talk. She's hoping if the public hears the plea from the Walls family, they'll come forward.
"Just continue to pray for our family and that we'll get somebody that'll come forward with some type of lead that they can communicate to [law] enforcement here to lead us to him," said Waite.
Family members said they are baffled by Jimmy Walls' disappearance, noting that he kept in touch frequently with his adult daughters. He had been living most recently with his mother, and she said he kept her informed of his whereabouts. As for trouble with the law - they said there were minor issues, such as expited auto insurance, but nothing violent.
Walls had recent ties to the Gainesville area, according to the family. He worked at Victory Foods up until February of this year.
Sheriff's officials said the public has tried to be helpful in the 10 days since Walls has been missing, but all tips so far have turned into dead ends.
"Most of the stuff we've gotten so far is people trying to help, but they had seen him at this location or that location and that was before he went missing," said Capt. Tony Wooten with the Dawson County Sheriff's Office.
Dawson County EMS crews also have been searching the forest area and they said they could use some new leads to follow, as well.
"This [the media briefing] was the important focus of the day," said EMS Chief Lanier Swafford. "Let's get the story back out today. We cleared an area of interest yesterday, we cleared some video surveillance that might or might not have been him - if it was, it was prior to him missing - so we're trying, you know, to tie up some loose ends, get the story re-established and prepare for the next step, whatever that may be. We're hoping, you know, some phone records and some additional leads from the community will provide us the direction we need to go."
Swafford also said it is important to the officials who are investigating the case that they support the Walls family during the process.
Jimmy Walls, by the way, is 5'9" and weighs about 165 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone who has any information on Walls is asked to get in touch with Dawson County Sheriff's Office investigators at 706-344-3636.
