James Orr

WALHALLA — A failed business was the excuse a West Union man gave for hiding in his barn for a week, making family and authorities consider him a missing person.

James Thomas Orr, 62, had been hiding in his barn concealed amid hay bales and living off water and honey according to his account to investigators of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.

Lt. Greg Reed of the Sheriff’s Office said investigators got a call from Orr’s family at 115 Mountain Springs Rd. about 8 a.m. Tuesday saying they had found Orr, who had last been seen at his home about 7 p.m. on Oct. 5.

Investigators at the scene said agitated horses had alerted family members to the presence of someone in the barn.

Orr told investigators he had hidden out on his own, with no assistance, mainly because of depression over his failed business.

Orr was the president and sole stockholder of Bounty Land Finance, Inc., a loan company in Seneca.

On Oct. 9, Walhalla attorney Lowell Ross, acting for Bounty Land Finance, petitioned the Tenth Circuit Court to appoint a receiver for the company. The petition was granted by Judge Alex Macaulay.

According to court documents, the company has assets of about $500,000, mostly receivable loan notes, and total liabilities of about $3.6 million.

Investigators reported that Orr had apparently arranged hay bales to create a small room amid the hay, covered with plywood, which was also concealed by hay. He told the investigators he came out through a concealed entrance at night or when he knew no one else was around. Honey jars and water bottles found at the scene supported Orr’s account of how he survived, according to investigators, who also reported the presence of several wine bottles.

Officers estimated Orr had lost about 40 pounds off his originally reported 380-pound frame.

Investigators reported that Orr recounted to them conversations he overheard while they had searched the barn days earlier.

Orr had been the object of a massive search effort for the past eight days, with authorities fearing he would be found dead.

Capt. Mike Crenshaw of the Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is closed from his agency’s point of view and that any further investigation regarding Orr’s business dealings would be carried out by the Seneca Police Department.

It was reported that Orr had handled investments for other people, but as of late Tuesday, no one had come forth to make a complaint about money lost through Orr’s business, Seneca Police Chief John Covington said.

“We urge anyone who has a report to file regarding this to come forward,” Chief Covington said.

“We’re looking for some answers,” said Steve Gibson, who told the Independent-Mail his family lost money. “About $50,000 is gone and we want to know what the man has done with our money.”

Gibson said after his father died, he and his brothers left their investments with Orr and his company.