Overview
- Ryan Lakes was last seen on Sept. 18 in Nashville before his vehicle was located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sept. 20.
- Lakes was found deceased around 2:45 p.m. on Sept. 21 in the park’s Big Creek area near the North Carolina–Tennessee border.
- The National Park Service has not released a cause of death, and a spokesperson said investigators do not suspect foul play.
- Multiple organizations assisted park rangers in the search and recovery operation in the dense, secluded Big Creek terrain.
- Officials asked anyone with information to contact the NPS tip line at 888-653-0009 or email [email protected] and requested privacy for the family.