In a press release posted Thursday night, officials with the Bryan County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) have confirmed that the body of 55-year-old Jose Garcia Hernandez, the missing worker who fell into the Ogeechee River from the I-95 Bridge on April 7, 2025, has been found.

Around 4 p.m. Thursday, deputies received a call from the Ford Plantation regarding a strong odor coming from a resident's dock. 

The full press release is as follows:

"Bryan County, Ga -- On April 24, 2025, at approximately 4:14 p.m., Bryan County Emergency Dispatch received a call from a homeowner in the Ford Plantation Community reporting a strong odor coming from the area near their private dock.

Deputies from the Bryan County Sheriff's Office, along with an investigator, responded to the location. Upon arrival, the investigator located what appeared to be a boot underneath the dock, with the assistance of the Bryan County Fire Department, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Richmond Hill Police Department, the body of a deceased individual was found in the water.

The clothing on the recovered individual matches the description of Mr. Jose Hernandez Garcia, who fell from the I-95 Bridge on April 7, 2025. Mr. Hernandez Garcia's family has been notified. 

The Bryan County Sheriff's office extends our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Hernandez Garcia during this difficult time. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the agencies and community members who assisted in this recovery and supported the investigation. Your cooperation and compassion have helped bring much-need closure to a grieving family." 

The search for Hernandez Garcia was officially suspended on April 22, sixteen days after the incident, due to the river's bend in the area.

The body will be taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab in the morning before being released to the family, according to BCSO.