SC man last seen leaving hospital in July; officials upping search efforts

First responders and volunteers will scour an area where a man’s vehicle was found abandoned in an attempt to find him.

The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office reported Robert Lester Jones, 32, was last seen July 24 around 7 p.m. as he was leaving Newberry County Memorial Hospital.

Jones’ car was located July 26 abandoned on Queens Church Road, a dead-end gravel road near Interstate 26, according to officials. Employees of a tree cutting service clearing power lines found the vehicle.

Deputies did not find signs of foul play or a struggle in or around the car.

Sheriff Lee Foster said they do not know if Jones remained in the area or left with someone else, but investigators are treating it as a missing person case.

Foster said investigators have used a State Law Enforcement Division helicopter to make extensive flights over the area and performed several ground searches using K-9s to attempt to locate Jones.

A search and rescue team made up of the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, Newberry County Fire Departments, Newberry County Rescue Squads and the S.C. State Guard will conduct a grid-type search in the area starting 7 a.m. Saturday.

Foster said the objective is to cover as much area as possible while still being thorough.

Anyone in the area between S.C. 121 and Queens Church Road should expect a heavy presence of emergency service personnel Saturday morning.

Jones was described as a white who is about 5-feet 11-inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing a blue and navy striped shirt, blue jeans, boots and a multi-colored welder’s cap.

Anyone with information about Jones’ location is asked to contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2211 or email the information to tips@ncso.sc.gov.