Update on Search for Charles M. Hosch
Our law partner and dear friend, Charles M. Hosch, has been missing since Tuesday, November 11, 2025, when he set out for a hike on the Byron Herbert Reece Trail near Blood Mountain in Union County, Georgia—an area he has known and loved since his youth in nearby Gainesville.
Extensive Search Efforts Continue
An intensive search and rescue operation has been underway since Wednesday afternoon, involving:
+ Dozens of trained search and rescue officers
+ Specialized K-9 units
+ Aerial support including helicopters and drones
+ Advanced technology and tracking resources
+ Additional search and rescue teams arriving today to expand the effort
The Union County Sheriff’s Office, along with multiple agencies, continues working tirelessly in the challenging terrain of the Blood Mountain Wilderness area.
About Charles
Those who have worked with Charles or sat in his classroom know him as more than a brilliant legal mind—he is a genuinely kind and profoundly sincere person who approaches every challenge and every individual with wisdom and generosity. A Harvard Law School graduate, Charles has dedicated more than three decades to mentoring law students at SMU Dedman School of Law and has been a cornerstone of our legal community. To his colleagues and students alike, he is not only an exceptional attorney and teacher, but a wonderful friend whose unwavering reliability and warmth have touched countless lives.
Originally from Gainesville, Georgia, Charles has deep roots in North Georgia and intimate knowledge of these mountain trails he has hiked throughout his life.
Physical Description
Charles is 6’1”, approximately 200 pounds, with white hair and glasses. He was last seen wearing khaki pants, a camel-colored sweater, and a dark green jacket.
How You Can Help
If you have information regarding Charles’s whereabouts:
+ Contact Union County Emergency Operations Center: (706) 439-6091
+ Or dial 911 if in Union County, Georgia
Share on social media:
You can also help by sharing missing persons information about Charles on social media to increase visibility and reach those who may have information about his whereabouts.
For coordination of direct support only:
If you are able to provide direct, on-the-ground assistance or resources to aid in the search efforts, please contact Kate Morris at Hosch & Morris, PLLC. Please note that due to limited cell phone reception in the search area, response times may be delayed. We ask that this line be reserved only for those offering tangible, specialized support.
Our firm, along with Charles’s family, SMU Dedman School of Law, and his church community, remain hopeful and grateful for the extraordinary efforts of all search and rescue personnel and the outpouring of support from the community.
We will continue to provide updates as they become available.