The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday evening that a reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to finding Billy Joe Garrett of the Princeton Community. The 82-year-old Western Laurens County resident was last seen Tuesday, January 28th at his residence at 13136 Highway 25, near the intersection of US 25 with US 76. It is thought that Mr. Garrett was wearing a dark blue flannel shirt and a brown Carhartt jacket. Billy Joe Garrett is approximately 5’10′ 180 lbs with long gray hair and a long gray beard. He is possibly suffering from Dementia. If anyone saw Mr. Garrett or someone matching his description or knows of his whereabouts please call Laurens County Crime Stoppers at 864-68CRIME (864-682-7463) or the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office at 864-684-4967. Again, a reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to finding this missing person.
Another day of aerial searching for the 82-year-old ended without success Sunday. The Sheriff’s Office was joined by a SLED Dog team and a SLED helicopter with heat-sensing equipment that searched Wednesday night on into early Thursday morning without finding a sign of his presence in the area surrounding his home. Ground crews regrouped and continued searching the area Thursday. Subsequent additional aerial searches expanded the area covered north into Greenville County and south toward Ware Shoals, and east toward Hickory Tavern. Sheriff Ricky Chastain said the Civil Air Patrol searched from the air on Friday, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office continued aerial searching Saturday and a Laurens County Sheriff’s Office air search Sunday was with the assistance of DNR.
Again, anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to call Laurens County Crimestoppers at 68-CRIME to be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000; or call the Sheriff’s Office at 864-984-4967.