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Contact: Emily Davis, 865-440-0066
GATLINBURG, Tenn.—After an extensive 11-day search, Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced today that they will suspend the active field search for Gordon Kaye.
“Although this is not the outcome we wanted, we gave our best efforts and completed very thorough ground searches,” said Incident Commander James Latendresse. “The size and scale of the search were only possible with the help of our partners and the dedicated volunteers who gave their time and expertise to look for Mr. Kaye.”
Operations will now switch from an active search to a limited, but continuous search, which may include backcountry patrols, air searches when practical, and outreach to hikers heading into the area. Additionally, a missing person investigation is ongoing and the NPS will continue to follow up on any new information.
Kaye, of Tampa, FL, was last seen on April 23 near a backcountry campsite in the Deep Creek area. His family reported him missing on April 26. The NPS started the missing person investigation the same day and launched a search focused on areas near where Kaye was last seen. Ultimately, more than 300 people from 57 agencies and four states searched the ground on foot, on horseback, and with canine teams looking for Kaye and clues to his location. Park rangers also used a drone in areas where vegetation cover allowed.
The National Park Service continues to ask the public to contact the park dispatch center at 865-436-1230 or Swain County Dispatch at 828-488-2196 if they were in the Deep Creek area between Wednesday, April 19 and Sunday, April 23 and believe they may have seen Kaye.
The NPS deeply appreciates the help from the agencies involved in the search. The full list of agencies can be found below the close.
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Appalachian Mountain Rescue Team
Asheville Fire Department
Asheville Police Department
Ash-Rand Rescue
Black Diamond SAR
Buncombe Rescue
BUSAR
CAC Knoxville
Christian Aid Ministries SAR
Canada FD
Chattanooga Hamilton County Rescue
Cherokee County EM
DOGS-East, Inc
EBCI Emergency Management
Cherokee Fire and Rescue
Cowee Fire Rescue
Cullowhee FD
Eastern Band Cherokee Indian
Glenville Cashiers
Graham County EM
Graham County Rescue Squad
Haywood County SAR
Haywood EM/IMT
Haywood SAR
Henderson County Rescue Squad
Jackson County Comms
Jackson County EM
Jackson County Rescue Squad
Knoxville PD
Linville-Central Rescue Squad
Macon County SO
NC Forest Service
NC SBI
NC Wildlife RC
NCEM
NPS-Grand Canyon
NPS-Great Smoky Mountains
NPS-Washington Area Support Office
NPS-Wolf Trap
Pigeon Forge FD
Pittman Center FD
Qualla
Responder Support Services
SCRS
Sevier Co F&R
Sevier County EMA
Skyland Fire
Spartanburg County Search and Rescue (SCSAR)
South Orange Rescue Squad
Southern Pride Search Dogs
Swain County Rescue
Swain EM
Swain EMS
Transylvania County EM
Waldens Creek FD
WCU EDM
Weaverville FD
Last updated: May 8, 2023