The case
In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 28, 2017, Austin James Wise left a home near the 3900 block of Griffin Road in Ware County, Georgia, where he had spent the night. He called a family member and asked for a ride. By the time the family member arrived, Austin was gone. He has not been seen or heard from since.
Austin is listed as a missing person by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. According to the GBI, case information indicates he was alone after leaving the Griffin Road location. What happened in the short window between his call for a ride and his family's arrival has never been publicly explained.
His family believes Austin was murdered. His body has never been found, and no one has ever been charged in connection with his disappearance. His mother, who administers the family's $10,000 reward, said in 2024: "I just want to know where he is at."
Every fact on this page comes from public sources — the GBI, news coverage, and the family's own statements. We publish facts, not rumors. See sources.
Timeline of verified events
Austin spends the night at a home on Griffin Road in Ware County, Georgia.
Austin leaves the Griffin Road location. He calls a family member and asks for a ride. When the family member arrives, Austin is gone. — GBI
Austin is reported missing. He is 24 years old. — GBI
His family launches a public petition to keep attention on the case. — Change.org
Unresolved: The Sudden Disappearance of Austin Wise, a three-part true-crime podcast series, covers the case. — The Last Southerners
Renewed news coverage: a Ware County Sheriff's Office investigator returns to Griffin Road with a reporter to reconstruct what is known. — local news
A $10,000 reward is offered in connection with the case — and it is still active today. — local news; family
Austin has been missing for over nine years. His case remains open. Someone out there knows something. It might be you.
Remembering Austin
Photographs of Austin, shared by his family.
$10,000 reward
$10,000
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information in the disappearance of Austin James Wise. The reward is active right now and is administered by Austin's mother.
Anyone with information about Austin's whereabouts or disappearance should contact the Ware County Sheriff's Office directly — see tip lines below.
The family's missing-person flyers note the reward is offered and paid by an independent third party for verified information directly leading to Austin's location.
How you can help
Cold cases are solved by ordinary people who decide to speak up or share. Here's what actually moves the needle:
📞 Report a tip
Know something — even something small? What seems insignificant to you could be the missing piece.
Ware County Sheriff's Office · Case detective: Melissa Thrift, (912) 287-4326
Anonymous tip line (call or text) — We Can Bring You Hope, the nonprofit assisting Austin's family
📣 Share his story
One share can put Austin's face in front of the person who knows something. It costs nothing.
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🖨️ Print the flyer
Put Austin's flyer where people in and around Waycross will see it — gas stations, stores, community boards, churches.
Print the flyer🎙️ Are you press or a creator?
Podcasters, YouTubers, journalists — cold cases break open when new audiences hear them. Key facts and coverage links are below.
Press kitPress & sources
Covering Austin's story? Start here. Everything below is public and linkable.
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation — official missing-person listing
gbi.georgia.gov/cases/missing-persons/austin-james-wise - "The Vanishing on Griffin Road" — in-depth case article (Sept 2026)
crimesolverscentral.com - "Unresolved: The Sudden Disappearance of Austin Wise" — 3-part podcast series by The Last Southerners (2020–2021)
Listen on Spotify - Case profile on Uncovered (NamUs-derived)
uncovered.com/cases/austin-wise - Family petition — "Finding my missing son Austin Wise" (2018)
change.org - We Can Bring You Hope — the nonprofit assisting Austin's family, running an anonymous tip line
wecanbringyouhope.org · (724) 466-4673 - Family Facebook page — Justice For Austin
Follow @JusticeForAustin on Facebook
A note for creators and commenters: please stick to verified facts. Do not publish names of private individuals as suspects, and do not spread rumors — it can harm the investigation and the family. When in doubt, link to the GBI listing above.
Questions
Is Austin's case still open?
Yes. Austin James Wise remains listed as a missing person by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Ware County Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information to come forward.
Is the $10,000 reward still active?
Yes. The family's $10,000 reward is active and is administered by Austin's mother. Report any information directly to the tip lines below.
Who do I call with information?
Call the Ware County Sheriff's Office at 912-287-4327 or the tip line at 912-287-TIPS (8477). The case detective is Melissa Thrift, (912) 287-4326. To report anonymously, call or text (724) 466-4673 — the tip line run by We Can Bring You Hope for Austin's family. If it is an emergency, call 911.
What if my information seems too small to matter?
Report it anyway. In cold cases, the break often comes from a detail someone almost didn't mention — something seen or heard years ago that suddenly fits. Let investigators decide what matters.
Can I remain anonymous?
Ask the tip line about anonymous reporting options when you call. What matters most is that the information reaches investigators.
Do the police believe foul play was involved?
The GBI lists Austin as a missing person and has not publicly announced a determination about what happened to him. His family believes he was murdered. No one has been charged in connection with his disappearance.