Authorities Still Searching For Missing Teen’s Body

HAWKINSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The search continues for the body of a missing Middle Georgia State College student, just one day after a Hawkinsville teen was charged with murder in the case.

Authorities are searching a two county wide area for the body of 19-year-old Jmaal Keyes, who went missing on April 25.

Rescue boats took to the waters of the Ocmulgee river Friday morning in both Bleckley and Pulaski counties, but according to the GBI, the search of the river has now been called off.

Late Friday, authorities were searching a rural area near Hawkinsville, but they say so far the search hasn’t turned up a body.

Thursday, police arrested 17-year-old Robert Kane Rolison of Hawkinsville and charged him with murder in the case. It’s not clear what exactly led authorities to Rolison.  We do know he is dual enrolled at Hawkinsville High School and MGSC and could have been Keyes’ classmate.

A lady who’s been following the case watched the search effort Friday at the Ocmulgee River in Hawkinsville. She says she never expected something like this to happen.

“I would want all the help I could get if it was my kid,” says Tammy Hogan.  “I’m just trying to do something nice.  You don’t expect something like that to happen around here–not in little towns.”

This is an ongoing investigation.  Stay with 41NBC and 41NBC.com for updates.