The body of a missing Stephens County man was discovered around noon on Monday, February 8, 2010 off Patterson Road near Westminster in Oconee County.
Mr. Jack Franklin Hawks, 75, of Eastanollee, GA, was found lying on the ground near a burned hay pile by a property owner. His vehicle was found a couple hundred yards away in a wooded area. It appears Mr. Hawks drove his pickup truck into the woods for reasons unknown; it appeared he attempted to exit the woods and impacted a tree obstructing his exit. There was evidence he had built small fires around the vehicle presumed in an attempt to stay warm. A blanket was in the truck.
Mr. Hawks was last seen alive on or around January 16, 2010 in Oconee County.
Mr. Hawks was found clothed only in a t-shirt and swim type shorts; a long sleeve shirt and a nylon type jacket was lying on the ground next to him. He was lying on his right side on the ground.
His identification was located inside his wallet which was discovered in the shirt pocket; he had over one hundred dollars cash in his wallet. A cigarette lighter was also discovered in a shirt pocket. It is believed Mr. Hawks ignited the hay pile in an attempt to stay warm.
An autopsy was performed Tuesday morning at the AnMed Medical Center. The autopsy showed that Mr. Hawks died from hypothermia; it has been estimated he had been dead 5 to 7 days when discovered. His manner of death is classified as accidental.
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