Police tracking down tip concerning Athens man who went missing in 2016

By Joe Johnson

Athens-Clarke County police said they are exploring a tip about what might have happened to an Athens man who went missing under mysterious conditions nearly five years ago.

The tip, which was received this week, concerned the disappearance of 62-year-old Angus Road resident James W. Mitchell.

Mitchell was reported missing by his daughter on Aug. 21, 2016, six days after the woman last saw her father as he left their home. She told police she did not immediately file a report because it was not unusual for Mitchell to be away from home for a couple days at a time.

The woman told police she found Mitchell’s truck near the entrance of Pinewood Apartments on Bailey Street, where he had no known acquaintances. Police said they found blood inside the truck.

Within several weeks, police characterized Mitchell’s disappearance as suspicious and said the man might have been the victim of foul play because of the blood and there not being any activity on his cellphone or bank cards.

Authorities searched wooded areas near the complex and detectives canvassed Pinewood Apartments in an attempt to locate people who might have seen Mitchell or knew of his whereabouts.

Investigators also sought out two “persons of interest” who reportedly were seen with Mitchell the day he disappeared, according to police.

In January 2018 authorities searched an area near the border of Athens-Clarke and Oglethorpe counties after receiving information that Williams’ body might be in that area.

Mitchell is described as being 5-feet, 9-inches tall and 290 pounds. He was last seen wearing khaki shorts, a purple shirt with white designs and a gray 49ers ball cap. He has a tattoo of a heart with a ribbon and the names Tabitha and Sara on his right upper arm.

Police asked for anyone with information about this case to contact Sgt. Greg Dickson at (762) 400-7070 or gregory.dickson@accgov.com, or Detective Paul Johnson at (762) 400-7060 or paul.johnson@accgov.com.

Anonymous tips can be made to the Crime Stoppers tip line at (706) 705-4775.