A Gainesville man was found dead in Lake Lanier early Thursday morning.
The Hall County Sheriff's Office said a resident called 911 just before 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, telling authorities that her landlord was missing.
"She was worried after he failed to return to the residence after going swimming in Lake Lanier," a release from the sheriff's office said.
Sheriff's deputies and Gainesville Police officers responded to the scene, along with marine crews from both Hall County Fire Rescue and the Gainesville Fire Department. They found him near a private dock at Sportsman Club Drive just off of Dawsonville Highway.
"According to the preliminary investigation, Brent James Williams, 66, routinely went swimming in the lake every evening between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.," the sheriff's office said. "He was last seen on the dock around 7 p.m. The tenant walked to the dock when Mr. Williams failed to return to the residence and found Mr. Williams' belongings, but no sign of him."
Williams' body was reportedly found in the early hours of Thursday morning in around 12 feet of water by a Hall County Fire Marine Rescue underwater drone. Authorities say there is no foul play suspected in Williams' death.
"At this time, it appears Mr. Williams drowned," the statement from the sheriff's office said.
Williams' body has been taken to the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy.
