Man indicted on attempted murder, sexual assualt charges in Smokies incident

Man indicted on attempted murder, sexual assualt charges in Smokies incident

Friday, February 28, 2014

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U.S. Attorney William C. Killian announced yesterday that a federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a three count indictment on December 3, 2013, against William E. Seevers, 48, for one count of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated sexual abuse by force. Seevers appeared in court on February 27, 2014, before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Bruce Guyton and pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He is being held pending trial, which has been set for April 29, 2014, in U.S. District Court, Knoxville.

The indictment alleges that in June 2012, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Seevers attempted to kill a woman by stabbing her in the neck with a knife. Additionally, Seevers engaged in sexual activity with the individual by use of force and placing her in fear of death by holding her at knife point and stabbing and punching her when she attempted to flee from him.

The victim was walking along the Gatlinburg Trail, which connects the Sugarlands Visitors Center with the city of Gatlinburg, when she was attacked at around 2:45 p.m. on the afternoon of June 8, 2012. The victim suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck, shoulder and hand. The then-44-year-old woman made her way to Gatlinburg Bypass where she flagged down a passing motorist for assistance.

If convicted, Seevers faces two terms of life in prison followed by an additional 20 years.

This indictment is the result of an investigation by the National Park Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kolman will represent the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Possible new clues in Gatlinburg Trail assault

Possible new clues in Gatlinburg Trail assault

Monday, June 18, 2012

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National Park Service investigators are seeking to identify and question an individual who a local couple says meets the description of the June, 8th assault suspect. The couple saw the man on the Gatlinburg Trail on Wednesday, June 6th, and again that Friday, near the time of the attack. Both his physical appearance and dress match that of the suspect.

During contact with the couple, the unknown man made statements suggesting that he is a roofer. The man is thought to drive a full-size, dark blue or black, standard-cab pickup truck. Chief Ranger Clay Jordan emphasizes, however, it is not known whether this individual is actually the assailant or whether he truthfully identified his occupation.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 40s, with dirty-blonde crew-cut hair and glasses. He is thin and stands about 5' 9" tall. At the time of the attack, he was wearing black dress pants and a gray t-shirt. He also has multiple tattoos, including one described as a word tattooed across his stomach.

Anyone with information as to the possible identity of the person sought for questioning is encouraged to call the tip hotline at 865-436-1580. A reward of up to $5,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the assailant.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Investigation Continues in Gatlinburg Trail Assault Case - Reward Offered

Investigation Continues in Gatlinburg Trail Assault Case - Reward Offered

Monday, June 11, 2012

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On June 8, at 2:43 pm, a 44 year-old female was sexually assaulted on the Gatlinburg Trail. The victim received multiple stab wounds to the neck, shoulder and hand. She made her way to the Gatlinburg Bypass where she flagged down a passing motorist for assistance. The victim was taken by helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center where she was treated for her injuries. The victim was released from the hospital last night.

National Park Service Special Agents continued to investigate the case over the weekend and have worked with the victim and a forensic artist to create the sketch of the suspect. The suspect is described as a white male of thin build, in his 40s, 5'9" - 5'10" tall, dirty-blonde hair, with a crew cut and thin mustache. He was wearing glasses, black dress pants and a gray t-shirt at the time of the attack. He has multiple tattoos, including on his shoulders and an unknown word across his abdomen. Here's the sketch of the suspect:

A reward in the amount of $5,000 has been established for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. Persons having seen this individual or having any knowledge of the crime should contact a special tip line at: 865/436-1580.

Chief Ranger Clay Jordan said today, "We stand committed to bringing this assailant to justice. Working together with the assistance of the public, I am optimistic that we can solve this case." Jordan said that although this still appears to be an isolated incident, ranger patrols in the area have been increased.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Woman Stabbed on Gatlinburg Trail

Woman Stabbed on Gatlinburg Trail

Saturday, June 9, 2012

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A 44-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and then stabbed several times while hiking along the Gatlinburg Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park yesterday.

The victim was taken by helicopter to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. She remains in the hospital and is in stable condition.

The woman managed to make her way to Highway 441 shortly before 3 p.m. and flag down a passing motorist.

Rangers immediately closed the 1.9-mile Gatlinburg Trail and contained an area between the Sugarlands Visitor Center and the city of Gatlinburg.

The suspect is described as a white male of thin build, in his 40s, standing 5-foot, 7 inches tall, with a crew cut and thin mustache. He was wearing black dress pants and a gray T-shirt at the time of the attack, the park reported. He has multiple tattoos, including one on his stomach.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the park dispatch emergency line at 865-436-9197.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Dogs on trails in the Smokies

Dogs on trails in the Smokies

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

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One of the most frequently asked questions that I receive on a fairly regular basis is to whether or not pets are allowed on the hiking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The quick answer to that question is, no.

However, I should mention that dogs are allowed on two short walking paths within park boundaries: the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.

The Gatlinburg Trail is a 1.9-mile, one-way path that leads from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to the outskirts of Gatlinburg. This relatively flat trail runs through the forest along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. Bicycles are also allowed on this trail.

The Oconaluftee River Trail also allows dogs and bicycles. This trail is 1.5 miles in length and follows the Oconaluftee River from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center to the outskirts of Cherokee, NC.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park prohibits dogs on backcountry trails for several reasons:

• Dogs can carry disease into the park's wildlife populations.

• Dogs can chase and threaten wildlife.

• Dogs bark and disturb the quiet of the wilderness.

• Pets may become prey for larger predators such as coyotes and bears. In fact, in August of 2016, a black bear killed a leashed dog in Shenandoah National Park. This isn't an isolated incident. According to a study conducted by Stephen Herrero and Hank Hristienko, both leading authorities on bear behavior, dogs were involved in more than half of all black bear attacks between 2010 and 2013.

• Many people, especially children, are frightened by dogs, even small ones. Uncontrolled dogs can present a danger to other visitors.

I should also point out that dogs are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, and along roads, but must be kept on a leash at all times. For more information on bringing your pet into the park, please click here.

For more in-depth information on this topic, I would strongly urge you to read this. If you wish to bring your dog into the backcountry, there are many places outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that do allow dogs on hiking trails, such as Cherokee, Pisgah, Nantahala and the Chattahoochee National Forests. Each of these areas offer numerous outstanding hiking opportunities. Karen Chavez from the Asheville Citizen-Times published a guide book that covers more than 50 hikes for you and your dog in North Carolina.

Does your pooch need to be outfitted before your next big hiking adventure? REI has a wide variety of hiking gear for your dog, including backpacks, booties and life jackets.






Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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