Search Intensifies for College Student

Family and friends of a missing college student from Gwinnett County met on Saturday morning to conduct their biggest and most organized search yet.

They have been looking for Justin Gaines, 18, a freshman at the Athens campus of Gainesville College, since he disappeared from Wild Bill's nightclub last week.

"Today's an important day," said Erika Wilson, Justin's mother. "I feel good. We're gonna go out there and stay focussed. We need to bring him back home to this family." Justin's mother and stepfather have worked tirelessly to try to find him. They said they're encouraged by the fact that Gwinnett County police have developed some leads.

"I know they've been doing busy doing interviews and going to a few houses," said Steven Wilson, Justin's stepfather. "We don't have any specifics, but we know they're working on it." For Saturday's search, organizers focussed on a four-mile radius around the cell tower that picked up Justin's last phone call to one of his friends last Thursday night.

"If there's anything suspicious, we're gonna mark it for the police and hopefully get Justin home," said Kelli McGill, Justin's aunt.

"We need him back, we need him back," said Justin's mother. "We all miss him very much." Family and friends remain confident they will find Justin safe somewhere.

They're offering a reward to anyone who comes forward with information about Justin's whereabouts.

The reward stands at $2000 now.

For more information about how you can add to the reward fund, call Karen Beyers at 770-822-4556.