A memorial service for Mason Cox and David Wood will be held at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at North Georgia Church, located at 74 Dill Lane, near Ga. 400 in Dawsonville.
The community is invited and encouraged to attend in support of the men's family and friends.
Authorities have confirmed that the bodies found in Fredericks Cove on Lake Lanier Friday afternoon in Dawson County are that of Mason Cox and David Wood.
Dawson County Sheriff's Maj. Tony Wooten said a sonar scan hit on the two bodies about a quarter mile from the dock where family believed the two men, both 20, went fishing in the early morning hours of Jan. 2.
"We were finally able to search the lake after a few days of ice. During that search they were able to find targets ... that they believed were bodies," Wooten said.
Divers were unable to go into the lake until Friday due to extreme temperatures and nearly an inch of ice blanketing the cove.
The sonar search of the cove was to "rule out the lake," Wooten said, as family members continued to hold out hope for the men's safe return home.
The bodies were submerged in between 15-20 feet of water and about 30 feet from a dock.
The first body was found about 5:30 p.m. followed by the second about 15 minutes later, Wooten said.
Both of the men were fully clothed when their bodies were pulled from the lake.
While the sheriff's office had not ruled out foul play in the men's disappearance, Wooten said Friday night the bodies showed no obvious signs of trauma.
"At this point, the preliminary report didn't show any signs of trauma, obviously signs were able to see," Wooten said. "Without the autopsy, we won't be able to comment any further on that."
The bodies were taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in Atlanta, where autopsies are scheduled for Monday.
According to their parents, the young men said they were headed out to go fishing about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 2 and would return later to spend the day with the families.
Fishing poles were found at their homes, along with items including one of the men's cellphone and wallet.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Georgia Department of Natural Resources were also called in to assist in the search, which included ground and air sweeps.
A memorial service for the two friends will be held at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at North Georgia Church, located at 74 Dill Lane, near Ga. 400 in Dawsonville.
“It will be a time of prayer and remembrance,” said organizer Shawn Dutcher with Dawson County Young Life.
Dutcher said the community is invited and encouraged to attend in support of the men's family and friends.
Check back to dawsonnews.com for updates to this story.