News Release

Shenandoah National Park missing person search concluded

Date: September 2, 2023
Contact: Allysah Fox, [phone]

LURAY, VA – Search operations for missing person Jerry Bailey have concluded after successfully locating him with combined efforts of Shenandoah National Park and Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Mr. Bailey was discovered by searchers at 1:15 p.m. on September 2, in the southern part of the park near Ivy Creek (mile 77.5). Mr. Bailey, 75, of Springfield, Tennessee was reported missing on August 31. His backpack was discovered at the Pinefield Hut (mile 75.2) on August 31. Shenandoah activated a full-scale search operation September 1. 

All trail closures are in the process of being lifted. A trail closure was put in effect in areas along the Appalachian Trail between Ivy Creek Overlook (mile 77.5) and Simmons Gap (mile 73.2) due to search operations.

Shenandoah National Park joins Virginia Department of Emergency Management in thanking the many organizations that were involved including Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Blacksburg Rescue Squad, as well as numerous volunteer search and rescue organizations including K9 Alert, Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group, Tidewater Search and Rescue Group, Blue Ridge Mountain Rescue Group, Mid-Atlantic D.O.G.S., Virginia Search and Rescue Dog Association, DOGS-East Search and Rescue, Black Diamond Search and Rescue, Virginia Search and Rescue Dog Association, Rockingham-Augusta Search and Rescue, Christian Aid Ministries Search and Rescue, Search and Rescue Tracking Institute, and Department of Conservation and Recreation.