Search Teams Find Missing Sevier County Man’s Remains, Investigation Ongoing

After an extensive search using search dogs and drones, the remains of a Sevier County man missing for nearly three weeks were found on Tuesday.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, the remains of 59-year-old Steve Flint McCollum were located in a heavily wooded area about half a mile from his home on Feb. 20, 2018.

Deputies first responded to a missing person call at McCollum’s Tatem Mar Way home on Feb. 3 in which relatives reported that he had not been seen since since the night of Jan. 31 when he left home on foot. Sheriff Ron Seals said his department searched several nearby areas using search dogs and aerial drones. The search team located the body of the missing man on Tuesday after expanding the search area.

“Detectives were summoned to the scene and an investigation into the cause of the victim’s death is pending an autopsy at Knox County Regional Forensic Center,” said a release from the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. “The investigation is ongoing at this time.”

Anyone with information should call the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office at (865) 453-4668.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Gatlinburg Fire Department, and Sevier County Rescue Squad assisted in the search.