A 21-year-old man who went missing has been found dead in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Ryan Lakes was last seen on Thursday, Sept. 18, in Nashville, according to a news release from the National Park Service.
Lakes’ vehicle was discovered in the park on Saturday, Sept. 20, NPS officials said.
On Monday, Sept. 22, NPS confirmed that Lakes was found deceased in the Big Creek area around 2:45 p.m. local time on Sunday, Sept. 21, according to ABC News and the Asheville Citizen Times.
The cause of Lakes’ death has not been disclosed. NPS spokesperson Katie Liming told the Citizen Times that no foul play is suspected.
“Please respect the privacy of the family during this time,” NPS officials said, according to ABC News.
Several organizations assisted in the search for Lakes, the NPS reported.
The Big Creek area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is described as “a dense forest” in a “secluded area on the northeast edge of the park near the North Carolina-Tennessee border.” The historic region is known for its “numerous streams and waterfalls.”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, covering 522,427 acres—or more than 800 square miles—is considered “the most visited national park in the country.”
