GA GA - Charles Hosch, 67, Dallas Law Partner and SMU Professor last seen hiking Appalachian Trail, Union County - 11/11/2025

[ItalyReader]

If the video still of him is when he's heading to the trail, it didn't look like he had a daypack. I seem to recall a report that he wasn't wearing dayhikers or hiking boots, but I'm not certain. I just remember thinking he looked like he wasn't planning an up-and-back hike, more just a short hike to enjoy being in the woods and mountains. I was so surprised someone reported seeing him on his way down, and it sounded like he may have summited or gotten close to the summit.

The cold weather is a distressing addition to the situation.

I’ve found the two images being circled in the media of him on a trail confusing.

They may be of different days or even years? MOO

In one, I think it is the video still, he is facing the camera, smiling, and wearing a wide brim sun hat. I can’t find the date for this photo and I believe they’ve been circling it because it gives a full frontal of Charles so people may identify him.
In the other, it looks like a security camera capture/snap, he is photographed from the side as he is walking to the right of the photo, head down, wearing a different hat (ball cap style). This one I have understood to be from Nov 11

 

[GraceG]

I’ve found the two images being circled in the media of him on a trail confusing.

They may be of different days or even years? MOO

In one, I think it is the video still, he is facing the camera, smiling, and wearing a wide brim sun hat. I can’t find the date for this photo and I believe they’ve been circling it because it gives a full frontal of Charles so people may identify him.
In the other, it looks like a security camera capture/snap, he is photographed from the side as he is walking to the right of the photo, head down, wearing a different hat (ball cap style). This one I have understood to be from Nov 11

I agree. The side photo with the ball style hat is from the day he was last seen. The other photo was provided to provide a better view of his face.

 

[LookingForClues]

Yes, I was referring to the photo with the ballcap. It is from the day he disappeared and showed what he was wearing that day. It does not look like he had a backpack.

 

[Ray_of_hope]

Last night as I lay in bed, I tried to think of my mindset if I was lost on a mountain. I'm happy to read that Charles did in fact wear a sweater under his coat. But assuming Charles made the summit, I would head down the mountain. During cold nights, I would seek out piles of dry leaves to insulate me from the cold. I may layer them within my clothing or I may lie below a pile. Water would necessary so heading down would also help find water. Once down I would try to walk around the base in hopes of discovering the trail. Since searchers were called out soon after he was discovered missing, he may have suffered some sort of medical event. It's possible that he ended up really far from where he wanted to be or that there was a mishap between an animal or human and himself. I don't see any mention of a phone though by now the battery would need charging. His car was found in the parking lot so he didn't leave the area that we're aware of. I've made it sound too easy and I know it's not. There are too many ways to become disoriented when in the woods.

 

[ItalyReader]

Last night as I lay in bed, I tried to think of my mindset if I was lost on a mountain. I'm happy to read that Charles did in fact wear a sweater under his coat. But assuming Charles made the summit, I would head down the mountain. During cold nights, I would seek out piles of dry leaves to insulate me from the cold. I may layer them within my clothing or I may lie below a pile. Water would necessary so heading down would also help find water. Once down I would try to walk around the base in hopes of discovering the trail. Since searchers were called out soon after he was discovered missing, he may have suffered some sort of medical event. It's possible that he ended up really far from where he wanted to be or that there was a mishap between an animal or human and himself. I don't see any mention of a phone though by now the battery would need charging. His car was found in the parking lot so he didn't leave the area that we're aware of. I've made it sound too easy and I know it's not. There are too many ways to become disoriented when in the woods.

I can’t stop thinking about this case.
It is possible he left if he got in someone else’s car (willing or unwilling).
MOO I think he must still be there just very lost, took a wrong trail, is way off the beaten path.
But so so so so odd.

 

[Ray_of_hope]

I can’t stop thinking about this case.
It is possible he left if he got in someone else’s car (willing or unwilling).
MOO I think he must still be there just very lost, took a wrong trail, is way off the beaten path.
But so so so so odd.

I agree. I hate when I become so obsessed with a case. I just can't shut off my brain. Not that it's done a bit of good. sigh Family of missing SMU professor Charles Hosch brings in project managers as Georgia search shifts to new phase

 

[acutename]

Last night as I lay in bed, I tried to think of my mindset if I was lost on a mountain. I'm happy to read that Charles did in fact wear a sweater under his coat. But assuming Charles made the summit, I would head down the mountain. During cold nights, I would seek out piles of dry leaves to insulate me from the cold. I may layer them within my clothing or I may lie below a pile. Water would necessary so heading down would also help find water. Once down I would try to walk around the base in hopes of discovering the trail. Since searchers were called out soon after he was discovered missing, he may have suffered some sort of medical event. It's possible that he ended up really far from where he wanted to be or that there was a mishap between an animal or human and himself. I don't see any mention of a phone though by now the battery would need charging. His car was found in the parking lot so he didn't leave the area that we're aware of. I've made it sound too easy and I know it's not. There are too many ways to become disoriented when in the woods.

fell and hit his head or worse
hypothermia

It is pretty easy to get hypothermia and he was not 25 yrs old.
He might have crawled into a crevice some where to sleep and did not come out.

I really think if it was not something sudden, he would have stayed near the trail
and gotten help the next day because he was smart. IMO.

 

[ItalyReader]

I agree. I hate when I become so obsessed with a case. I just can't shut off my brain. Not that it's done a bit of good. sigh Family of missing SMU professor Charles Hosch brings in project managers as Georgia search shifts to new phase

One slightly new tidbit I found was that “Hosch was seeking out nostalgic views on the hike, his daughter Julia Hosch-Singh said.”

Law firm asks for help in finding Dallas professor who went missing on north Georgia hike

More than two weeks after a Dallas professor vanished during a hike in the north Georgia mountains, his law firm is seeking experts to help find him.

www.atlantanewsfirst.com

I had also read that the family was seeking members of Hosch’s childhood Boy Scout troop - I can’t find where this was now.

MOO they may want speak with these ex scouts to find out where their favorite places were on the mountain, with the idea that Hosch may have gone off-trail to revisit those spots

 

[ItalyReader]

I really think if it was not something sudden, he would have stayed near the trail

I agree. Makes sense. If he were on the trail at the moment of a sudden health event like stroke, he would not be able to move far from the trail, nor would he choose to, knowing help would be harder to receive.

So that makes me think even more that he either got lost or chose to go off trail to find the nostalgic points he was looking for (mentioned in link below)- and then was simply lost or had a sudden health event off trail.

Law firm asks for help in finding Dallas professor who went missing on north Georgia hike

More than two weeks after a Dallas professor vanished during a hike in the north Georgia mountains, his law firm is seeking experts to help find him.

www.atlantanewsfirst.com

 

[Ray_of_hope]

"One nonprofit group is already conducting searches using K-9 units, drones, and ground teams, according to a website dedicated to finding Hosch. The newly added nonprofit will expand the number of search teams covering the area."

New nonprofit joins search for missing Texas attorney near Blood Mountain

A second nonprofit search team is joining the effort to find attorney and law professor Charles Hosch, who disappeared while hiking near Blood Mountain on Nov. 11 after the official search was called off.

www.fox5atlanta.com

 

[RedHaus]

I've been studying this last known image of CH, starting his hike the day he disappeared.

Like others and his family have observed, he is not wearing a backpack and does not appear to have a water bottle with him. His family have stated his footwear was not hiking wear. Perhaps his focus was not on survival.

What I can't get over from this image, is my perception CH appears melancholy.

He could just be pensive, mulling over a difficult case or difficult personal situation. And IRRC he may be grieving a recent family loss.

The new family information (^) that CH may have been interested in visiting nostalgic locations on the mountain also has my attention.

While always hard to suggest, I have to wonder if CH does not want to be found. Maybe he knew of or found a special hiding place on the mountain to rest.

Union County Sheriff's Office - Georgia

***Update 11/13/25 10:51 AM*** Please see the the added picture to show what Charles was wearing the last time he was seen. If you were near or on the Appalachian Trail/Mountain Crossing Store on the...

www.facebook.com

IMO.
ET: fix formatting