Massive Search Operation Finds Man after 4 Nights Missing in Smoky Mountains

Posted by: Submitted Report in Local August 1, 2019 1 Comment

After spending four nights lost in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Kevin Mark Lynch was found alive by searchers on Wednesday. About 60 agencies participated in the massive search operation, including many from Sevier County.

At approximately 4:25 p.m. on July 31, 2019 searchers discovered Lynch, alert and responsive, in the southeast area of the park near the Cataloochee Divide Trail. Earlier in the day, grid search team members discovered the first significant leads in the search for Lynch when his hat and pair of sunglasses were discovered approximately 1,600 feet south east of the Cataloochee Divide trail. Shortly after, a second grid search team, found what appeared to be fresh footprints leading toward the Ferguson Cabin. At these discoveries, search efforts were consolidated and redirected to the areas adjacent to where the clues were discovered in a focused search effort. Within a few hours, Lynch was discovered after he responded to searcher’s yells. Lynch was only ¾ of a mile from the point last seen at The Swag resort on Saturday afternoon.

Haywood County EMS transported Lynch to Haywood Regional Medical Center for assessment where he was reunited with his family, whom had been gathered near the command center daily since his disappearance on Saturday. From New Jersey, 58-year-old Lynch has mild dementia and was a visitor to the area.

“From the moment we learned of Lynch’s disappearance, Haywood County Emergency Management and National Park Service staff worked quickly to take an aggressive and proactive approach with search tactics due to the dire circumstances surrounding Lynch’s health condition,” said Park Chief Ranger Lisa Hendy. “The successful utilization of a joint command structure was definitely a contributing factor to the success of this operation. We cannot thank all of the agencies who supported this effort enough for their dedicated commitment to bringing Mr. Lynch home safely to his family.”

A total of 209 searchers, trackers, and incident command personnel associated with 32 agencies participated in the search effort Wednesday, with approximately 60 agencies assisting in the operation over the course of the entire operation.

Operations Section Chief James Latendress at operational morning briefing in search for Kevin Lynch.

Personnel at the incident command post in Smoky Mountains

Searchers at incident command post in Smoky Mountains

Grid search team searching dense forest in Smoky Mountains for Kevin Lynch

On Sunday July 28, North Carolina Highway Patrol utilized a helicopter with FLIR technology, forward looking infrared (FLIR), in an effort to locate sources of heat in the search area. Drones were utilized daily to get a bird’s eye view of the area. Law enforcement officials and fire departments went door to door notifying home owners adjacent to the park boundary to be on the lookout for Lynch. Over 400 residences were contacted and their associated outbuildings and barns searched.

Trackers and search dog teams examined points of interest Wednesday after a contract helicopter was deployed Tuesday to scan the terrain for specific geologic features, such as rock outcrops and grassy balds, to help identify areas that may be utilized by Lynch. Grid teams will expanded their search corridor from 100 ft. to 300 ft. off trails and streams. All-terrain vehicles were used to search several old logging roads and manways located on private land in the search area.