Authorities Suspend Search for Justin Gaines

The search for clues in the eight-year-old case of a missing Gwinnett County teen has apparently turned up nothing new.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook the search of an area in the eastern part of the county for Justin Gaines was suspended Thursday:

UPDATE- Justin Gaines

At this time, the search for Justin Gaines has been suspended. Gwinnett County will continue in their efforts to bring resolution to this case. They will follow up on all leads received in the last few days.

We want to thank everyone involved in this effort and give a special thanks to Georgia State Patrol and Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Officers from multiple agencies searched the High Shoals area near the Apalachee River this week, working on a tip from an inmate that Gaines’ body might be in an old well.

The Gwinnett Sheriff’s Office, DNR Rangers and Georgia State Patrol have assisted in the search. Crews searched three wells and a pond in the area, the Walton sheriff’s office said.

Gaines, of Snellville, was 18 at the time he was last seen on Nov. 2, 2007 at Wild Bill’s near Duluth.

Even without finding a body or other evidence, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Butch Conway said he was confidence there could soon be a break in the case, telling the Gwinnett Daily Post Wednesday, “I think some people are gonna go to jail pretty soon.”

[NORECIRC}

Photos: Walton County Sheriff’s Office Facebook; www.justingaines.com