Overview
- Marcin Bachleda Blaszczak, an Illinois resident, was last seen at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Gatlinburg on Aug. 22 and was reported missing to park dispatch two days later.
- Park rangers located his vehicle in the visitor-center parking lot and found personal items inside, including a wallet, backpack, extra shoes and cash.
- Search efforts have widened across Great Smoky Mountains National Park with reports of roughly 47 to 57 park rangers and volunteers involved and four North Carolina mountain rescue teams deployed to help.
- Authorities released a physical description—about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 170 pounds, brown hair and blue eyes—and have asked anyone with information to email GRSM_Dispatch@nps.gov.
- The park’s steep, heavily visited terrain complicates the search, family members say they will continue looking, and officials urge the public to report any sightings or tips to aid the operation.