A 32-Year-Old Tourist Vanished After He Got into a Taxi in Florida 2 Years Ago. His Body Was Just Found in Georgia

Mar. 15, 2025

The remains of a 32-year-old man from England who went missing more than two years ago have been recovered in Georgia, authorities said last week.

A Georgia Bureau of Investigation medical examiner confirmed his identity.

The FBI Jacksonville’s Evidence Response Team led the investigation and search for Doughty after his mother reported him missing as he visited north Florida in September 2022. She shared with police her “concern[s] for his well-being” at the time, according to the new statement.

Officials say no criminal charges are expected.

“While we had hoped to bring Mr. Doughty’s family better news, we are thankful to be able to provide them with some closure," Special Agent in Charge Kristin Rehler said in the statement. “This discovery is the direct result of our partnerships and special agents from FBI Jacksonville’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST), who were relentless in their efforts to narrow down potential search locations.”

U.K. tourist Alex Hodgson Doughty, who went missing in Florida and was later found dead in Georgia.NamUs

NamUs

According to amissing persons report, Doughty’s was last seen at Bay Street Bar and Grill in Jacksonville, Fla., around 3.30 p.m. local time on Sept. 11, 2022. He was dropped off in a taxi to Kingsland an hour later.

His mother, Pamela Hodgson, wrote on hisFacebook pagein January 2023, “Alex has been missing now for four months. Please help find him. While there are still uncertainties in Alex’s disappearance … it is believed he stopped in Callahan and/or Fernandina, Fla., on this journey.”

She added then that her son “hasn’t been in contact with his friends or family” since arriving in Florida and that his friends and family “are extremely worried about him.”

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FBI searches for U.K. tourist Alex Doughty.FBI Jacksonville/Facebook

FBI Jacksonville/Facebook

Joining in investigating the case were the FBI’s Jacksonville Division, Thames Valley police in the U.K. local prosecutors and others.

The FBI relied on phone and location data, among other sources, to track the location of Doughty’s whereabouts,First Coast Newsreported.

An official told the outlet, “This isn’t a traditional investigative technique, such as interviews. We used phone-based location information and geolocation information derived from electronics we surround ourselves with every day to retrace their footsteps and to narrow a search area.”

PEOPLE has reached out to the FBI Jacksonville Division and the Kingsland Police Department for further comment.

source: people.com