Park Scales Back Search For Missing Man

Great Smoky Mountains rangers have scaled back their efforts to find 45-year-old Christopher Lee Cessna, who has been missing since April 27th.

For over a week, rangers and search dog teams combed the forest near the Newfound Gap parking area where Cessna’s car was found, but found no sign of him. Searchers intensively covered an area of about two miles radiating out from the parking lot and from the hiking trails that pass through the area, and probed acres of steep, rocky terrain and dense brush. Up to 30 searchers, including as many as four search dog teams, covered the area each day and followed up on every suspected scent alert – but found no trace of Cessna.

The case remains open, and staff will continue to be on the lookout for signs of Cessna while engaged in regular duties.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com