A man reported missing Thursday was found dead Friday morning of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Bulloch County Coroner Jake Futch said Randy Higginbotham, 57, Lagoon Road, died from a gunshot wound to the head.Bulloch County Sheriff’s deputies began a search near the Go-Bar Landing on the Ogeechee River Thursday evening after Higginbotham was reported missing, said Bulloch County Sheriff Lynn Anderson. He had last been seen by family members around 1:30 p.m. Thursday and “had several medical issues of concern,” he said.

Deputies halted the seach by nightfall but resumed the search, hampered by “the density of the swamp growth of the Ogeechee River,” at dawn Friday, he said. About 20 deputies and investigators, rangers from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and a helicopter piloted by Georgia State Patrol troopers  searched for three hours by foot, ATV, boat and helicopter before Deputy Will Craig “located Higginbotham in an area of thick swamp near the river.” 

“At this point there is no evidence of foul play,” Anderson said. “Deputies extend their condolences to Higginbotham's family.”