The Asheville Citizen-Times reports: “Human remains found about a mile from the Sugarlands Visitors Center are thought to be those of a missing hiker, park officials said Tuesday.
The remains — a partial human skull — might be those of Michael Giovanni Cocchini, a man thought to be missing in the park since March 18, said Molly Schroer, park spokeswoman.
Park employees doing research on an unrelated matter discovered a backpack thought to belong to Cocchini on Friday near where his vehicle was found parked along Newfound Gap Road.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.