“I Told You We’d Find Her”: Lori Paige’s Disappearance Ends in Tragedy and Unthinkable Truth
April 2025 — Georgia — “I told you we’d find her,” Police Chief Revell said solemnly as search crews combed through the scorched remains of a wildfire-struck field in rural Georgia. But no one could have predicted the heartbreaking way in which 14-year-old Lori Paige would finally be found — or the disturbing truth that would follow.
It had been 700 days since Lori’s father, Andrew Wiley, called 911 in the early morning hours of May 3, 2023, claiming his daughter had vanished overnight from their modest home. The story gripped their small town and spread quickly across the state: a teenager, seemingly gone without a trace, her room undisturbed, the front door locked, and her phone left behind.
Now, nearly two years later, the mystery has ended in grief — and criminal charges.
The Disappearance
From the start, the disappearance of Lori Paige raised questions. A bright, creative teenager known for her love of drawing, music, and the color purple, Lori was described by classmates and teachers as quiet but sweet, a girl who always stayed after class to help and left notes of encouragement in lockers during exam season.
Her father’s 911 call set off an immediate and intensive search. Dogs were brought in. Drones flew overhead. Volunteers scoured trails and waterways for weeks. Nothing.
And then came silence. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Her mother, Tina Paige, who was separated from Wiley at the time, never stopped pleading for answers. She appeared at vigils wearing Lori’s favorite purple hoodie, holding photos, repeating through tears: “She didn’t run away. Someone knows something.”
The Break in the Case
In March 2025, a wildfire swept across several acres of remote land in Baldwin County, Georgia. As firefighters extinguished the last of the flames, they stumbled upon what they first thought was a scorched deer carcass. But investigators quickly confirmed the remains were human.
Dental records and DNA soon confirmed the worst: it was Lori Paige.
What followed was a painstaking forensic investigation, one that would eventually lead detectives right back to where they started — her father, Andrew Wiley.
Digital Breadcrumbs
The key, detectives say, was Wiley’s phone. While he initially cooperated in 2023, giving a brief statement and then stepping back from public view, detectives quietly held onto his digital data. That included GPS history, browser activity, and deleted search entries.
What they found painted a chilling picture: repeated searches for “remote areas with lakes in Georgia,” “how deep does a body sink,” and “how long until a body is found in the woods.” Investigators also found that Wiley had no alibi during key hours of the night Lori vanished — despite claiming he was working an overnight shift.
What’s more, cell tower pings placed his phone less than two miles from the site where Lori was eventually found — on the very night she disappeared.
“It was staged,” said Detective Ramona Ellis. “He wanted us to believe she slipped away on her own. But the digital evidence told a different story. And when that wildfire cleared the land, the last piece finally came into view.”
Wiley was arrested quietly at his workplace last week. He now faces charges of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and providing false statements to police. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond as the investigation continues.
A Community in Mourning
In the days since the announcement, shock and sorrow have rippled through the community. At Lori’s former middle school, students and staff have created a memorial garden in her honor. Purple ribbons now hang from lockers, telephone poles, and mailboxes in her neighborhood.
“She never had a voice in what happened to her,” said her best friend, Maya Carter. “But we’ll be her voice now. We’ll keep her name alive.”
Lori’s teachers recall her love for poetry and her dream of becoming a children’s book illustrator. “She used to leave sketches on my desk,” one teacher shared. “Just silly doodles. But there was so much joy in them. That’s the Lori I remember.”
Her mother, Tina, released a short, tearful statement outside her home, surrounded by supporters and wearing Lori’s purple scarf.
“I prayed for answers, even when I knew the truth in my heart,” she said. “Now, I pray for justice. And for peace — for Lori, and for all the children whose voices are taken before they’re heard.”
What Comes Next
Authorities continue to build their case, and more charges may follow as forensic analysis of the scene continues. Prosecutors are expected to seek the maximum penalty allowed under Georgia law. Meanwhile, the community prepares to lay Lori to rest — something they hoped they’d never have to do.
A public memorial service is scheduled for later this month, and thousands are expected to attend, many wearing purple in her memory.
Police Chief Revell summed it up best in a press conference Thursday afternoon: “We didn’t give up. We never gave up. And now, we fight for her — for the truth she couldn’t speak, and for the justice she deserves.”
To continue following Lori’s story and the ongoing investigation, visit: https://phizat.org/lori-vanished/
If you or someone you know is in danger or needs help, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678).