Presumed Located GA - Don Hightower, 60, left sister's home, brain fog/tired, veh missing, Johnson Co, 30 Oct 2021

[scriabina]

Hm, the other articles stated he drove himself home, so which is it? Did he get a ride, or did he drive himself? Seems a strange fact to mess up, unless perhaps someone was lying...?


First article cited here:

"Saturday, he spent the day with us, and he was leaving his sister's house. He was supposed to come straight home and call her," Kenny [Don's son] said.

He never did, so Don's family instantly began looking.

 

[LadyL]

well I think they'll eventually find him in his car in a body of water or down an embankment somewhere unfortunately

 

[scriabina]

well I think they'll eventually find him in his car in a body of water or down an embankment somewhere unfortunately

I think so too.

It's a shame he didn't get better medical attention. IMO, it sounded like his "brain fog" was pretty serious and he shouldn't have been driving in that condition. To call it merely "brain fog" downplays the condition and does a disservice to those with cognitive/neurological dysfunction who need serious help.

(Not blaming the family for using that term; just speaking in general terms. Lots of people today are citing "brain fog" due to post-covid cognitive dysfunction, for example, but recently it's been found that covid actually significantly reduces gray matter, aging the brain up to 10 years in just a few months' time. If people gave "brain fog" a more appropriate name, perhaps others would take it more seriously. MOO.)

 

[PommyMommy]

MAR 29, 2022
Johnson County man still missing after 5 months | 13wmaz.com
[...]

"We was right here watching the Georgia vs. Florida game that day he left,” says Scott Hightower.

Scott Hightower is Don's son. He says that after watching the game, Don was supposed to drive from his sister's house and call them when he made it home. They haven't heard from or seen him for the past five months.

"You would think that somebody's seen him or there was a tip to come in, but it always was nothing,” he says.

[...]

60-year-old Johnson County man still missing

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 29, 2022

Sheriff: Vehicle of missing Middle Ga. man found, crews discover remains nearby

JOHNSON COUNTY, Ga. (WGXA) - Human remains found in Johnson County may be connected to the case of a man missing for nearly a year.In a post to Facebook, the Jo

wgxa.tv

[...]

In a post to Facebook, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office says a deer hunter found a vehicle matching that of Don Hightower, first reported missing on October 30, 2021. The Sheriff's Office says the vehicle was discovered by the hunter Friday around 5 p.m. off of Highway 319 in eastern Laurens County.

Once investigators learned of the discovery, they were able to match the license plate on the vehicle to that of Hightower. Multiple agencies started searching at first light Saturday and eventually discovered human remains. They are being taken to the state crime lab for identification.

[...]

 

[GraceG]

Here is a media article that confirms what info is in the Facebook LE Sheriff's post. Hunter finds missing Georgia man's car, Laurens County Sheriff and GBI find remains nearby

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 31, 2022

Missing Johnson County man's family '100 percent certain' his remains have been found

A GBI autopsy will try to confirm that Don Hightower's remains were found Saturday in Laurens County

www.13wmaz.com

The family of a missing Johnson County man released a statement after a body of a missing man was found on Saturday in Laurens County.

The statement says they are sure that the body is that of Don Hightower, who went missing after leaving his sister's house in October 2021.

[...]

"It is with great sadness that we announce the search for our father, grandfather, brother, and friend is over. On Friday, Oct,. 28, hunters found Don’s car in a wooded area off of Hwy 319 in northeast Laurens County. The following morning, a grid search was executed by multiple law enforcement agencies and first responders. The search was successful in finding Don. Without going into any details, and pending examination of all evidence by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Forensic Lab, all evidence points toward the fact that Don suffered a medical emergency the night he went missing and passed away that night.

... While the family is 100% certain we have found Don, the remains must legally be identified forensically. The GBI is currently working on that identification. Because of the uncertainty with respect to a time frame for that identification process, no Memorial Service / Celebration of Life is currently planned. We will make a public announcement concerning a Memorial Service / Celebration of Life at the appropriate time in the future.

[...]

 

[iulia]

His NamUs page has been removed.