George Riley Jr., executive director of the Republican Party of Florida, went missing for four days after his family reported him missing to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office when they were unable to reach him. Riley was found by sheriff deputies two days later after allegedly destroying his hotel room during an alcohol-induced bender at a Hampton Inn in Kissimmee. He had reportedly urinated and vomited throughout the room and broke the electrical blinds.
Riley had told his family he was traveling to Kissimmee for work but stopped communicating with them on March 29. He had a medical condition and was taking medication, although the specific details were redacted from the report. Riley checked into the Hampton Inn on March 28 and extended his stay the following day. When he tried to extend for a second time on April 3, the staff refused due to his excessive drinking and the damage caused to the room. He was forced out and charged extra for cleaning the room as well as repairing the broken blinds.
Deputies searching for the missing man found him at the B Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista on Friday, where he was under the influence of alcohol but in good health. They determined that he was not a threat to himself or others and allowed him to walk free. Riley later apologized for his behavior and admitted to dealing with alcoholism and mental health issues. He promised to pay for any damages caused, apologized to the employees for his behavior, and stated that he would seek help in order to be a better father, person, and employee.
Riley has been with the Florida GOP since 2008, starting his career as a field staffer in Tampa. The Hampton Inn assistant general manager mentioned that Riley had purchased so much alcohol from the hotel store that they had to order more to keep up with his frequent purchases. He did not argue with the charges for cleaning the room and repairing the blinds. Riley’s concerned family had not heard from him for days, which led them to report him missing to authorities.
The Republican Party of Florida has not issued a statement regarding Riley’s incident. Riley expressed deep sorrow and regret for his actions, acknowledging his struggles with alcoholism and mental health. He emphasized his commitment to seeking help to overcome these challenges and become a better person. Deputies confirmed that he was under the influence of alcohol when he was found but was otherwise in good health. After his reunion with his family, Riley expressed his intention to address his issues and work towards personal improvement.
