The Smoky Mountains are quite remote, but experienced hikers like Austin and his stepfather usually had no problems. In fact, Austin was used to being in the wilderness, but this time, he slipped out of view. Dogs and helicopters were sent out, but no one could find the boy. Seemingly, the mountains swallowed him whole!
Precarious Situation
The case had many suspicious details from the start. Steve Kloster was a Park Chief Ranger assigned to the situation, and he had a bad feeling deep within. He’d been involved in similar searches, so he knew when people weren’t telling the truth!
Precarious Situation
Running out of Time
Kloster knew they were running out of time. One boy had been missing for 11 days, so the chances of him still being alive were slim and narrowing quickly. Still, the park ranger checked the map and wondered where he could be. Was foul play involved?
Running out of Time
Regular Hike
It was a normal day in August for Austin and his stepfather, Hubert. They took off to enjoy a hike in the wild world of the Smoky Mountains. In fact, they’d been on the trail before, so they weren’t too concerned about rain or other issues.
Staying on Guard
Austin and Hubert fully understood that their situation could change at a moment’s notice, so they didn’t completely let down their guard. The endless terrain of scrub and trees made it easy to get disoriented, but they were with each other and couldn’t foresee any issues.
Staying on Guard
A Certain Plant
The duo took a specific path near the creek because they were searching for something in particular. It was a plant that would make them richer by about $600, and they were eager to find one for themselves.
A Certain Plant
Against the Law
Removing this particular plant from that national park was illegal. Hubert and Austin believed that it was worth that risk because people highly coveted it. In fact, it was used in many drinks and supplements because of its specific qualities.
Against the Law
Stepfather’s Report
They made their way beside the creek, but Hubert tried standing on a wet rock and lost his footing as he tried to straighten himself up. This caused him to knock off his own glasses, which fell into the water below. He shouted in frustration.
Stepfather’s Report
Needs Glasses
Hubert required glasses to see anything. Now, he couldn’t go deeper into the national park and navigate the rough territory around the mountains. Austin realized that, so he jumped into the water to grab his stepdad’s spectacles for him!
Needs Glasses
Rushing Water
Austin quickly found his footing while in the water, kicking around and searching for those glasses. Hubert slowly climbed into the creek to help him, but he did so carefully. The pair waded gently into the water.
Rushing Water
Moving Away
Hubert should not have been in that water when he couldn’t see. He was actually moving away from his stepson a little at a time, and Austin was focused on getting the glasses. As Hubert thought back on that moment, he got emotional and upset.
Moving Away
Nowhere to Be Seen
In Hubert’s report, he said he hadn’t registered that he couldn’t hear or see Austin. In fact, he was searching for his glasses in the water. When he finally realized that his 18-year-old stepson wasn’t in sight, he didn’t automatically panic.
Nowhere to Be Seen
Calling Out
They had wandered apart. Hubert moved back to where he’d initially been, but he couldn’t see well without his glasses. Calling to Austin didn’t help because the boy didn’t reply. He reported that to the park rangers but waited a few days before doing so!
Calling Out
Why Wait
Park Chief Ranger Kloster received the call about Austin’s disappearance. However, he initially wondered why the stepfather had waited two whole days before he reported the boy missing. It was a good question!
Why Wait
Hiding Something
They’d gone on the hike on August 11, but nothing official was reported until August 13. Kloster believed something strange had happened in his national park. Still, he had to gather a search party and hunt for the boy to get the answers he sought.
Hiding Something
Calling for Support
The Chief Ranger called in a team of over 100 people to search for Austin. He also requested canine units from the TEMA (Tennessee Emergency Management Agency). Helicopters got dispatched, too, which helped comb higher areas for the boy.
Calling for Support
Thin Air
It seemed that Austin had disappeared into thin air. This caused concern for Kloster, and he truly believed that Hubert Dyer, Jr., had something to hide about that hike. Their search party worked tirelessly in the heat to get information but to no avail!
Thin Air
Search Area Combed
Kloster grabbed a map to see where Hubert claimed the boy had disappeared. The search team had been through that whole area, including the dogs. However, there was no trace of Austin. He was concerned, feeling that something bad had happened.
Search Area Combed
Can’t Pinpoint the Area
He knew he had to comb the entire 6,700-acre area, but time was slipping away from them. It wasn’t freezing, but Austin would need food. Why couldn’t they find anything? There was no evidence at all. Plus, Hubert couldn’t pinpoint the spot, which was suspicious.
Can’t Pinpoint the Area
The Clue
Chief Park Ranger Kloster contacted Hubert once again, asking him to come to the station and talk. He realized time was of the essence and wanted to learn anything else he possibly could before having to call off the search.
The Clue
10 Days
Austin had been gone for a total of 10 days by now. Kloster realized that the stepfather had information he wouldn’t share yet, and he hoped the man would finally come clean because a child’s life was at stake. Hubert disclosed some data that changed it all!
10 Days
Key Plant
Hubert Dyer Jr. hadn’t wanted to admit that the pair had been looking for a ginseng plant that was highly coveted. It was illegal to remove it from the park. However, he finally told Kloster about it, so the park ranger knew the entire truth.
Key Plant
Concerns
Hopefully, all wasn’t lost. Kloster now had information about the plant in his possession, so he called some guides to help him locate the flora in the national park. They could narrow down the search and find Austin.
Concerns
Keeping Hope Alive
Everyone tried to keep up their spirits and assume nothing about Austin. He had been in the outdoors and had enjoyed the trails in the Smoky Mountains, so he had probably been able to survive that long without assistance from others.
Keeping Hope Alive
Ranger Speaks
The Chief Park Ranger was encouraged. He knew that nothing bad had happened in the wilderness, and he claimed that the boy’s age was on his side. Plus, there was plenty of fresh water throughout the national park. However, he’d been gone for a while!
Ranger Speaks
Lengthy Manhunt
It had been about 11 days since Austin and Hubert had seen each other, and they’d been wading in the creek. Kloster had carried out many searches during his 20-year career at the national park, but none had gone on that long!
Lengthy Manhunt
One Last Try
The Chief Park Ranger knew he couldn’t devote much more manpower to the search, but he decided to give it one last try to help find Austin. If that didn’t work, they’d have to accept that he was lost in the wilderness and would have to find his own way out.
One Last Try
Austin’s Story
Austin was in the park the entire time and had survived the ordeal. Because of his experience, he knew he’d be okay. However, he didn’t know that a search party was out looking for him and didn’t make it easy for them.
Austin’s Story
Survival Theory
He was simply trying to stay alive, remembering the survival instructions he’d learned throughout the years. He had to keep his head clear. Initially, when he realized he was missing, he went to higher ground to have a better shot at getting seen.
Survival Theory
No Cell Phone
Austin had another reason for getting to higher ground. He needed to get a signal on his cell phone. If he could actually call someone, he would be out of the wilderness quickly and without anything to worry about.
No Cell Phone
No Bars
He was aware that there weren’t many masts in the national park, but he felt it was worth a shot. Still, he couldn’t get any bars. Austin planned to call his mother to hear her voice. Now, he needed a new idea that would keep him alive.
No Bars
Basic Needs
Austin knew he required fresh water and quickly. He could go without eating for a while, but he had to have water. Therefore, he had to go back to the creek. Carefully, he navigated the ridge and followed the water to the bottom of that mountain.
Basic Needs
Different Location
He had plenty of water now and drank deeply. However, the hike down the mountain had taken a lot of time, and he was in a different direction than where he’d started. If people were actually looking for him, they wouldn’t start there!
Different Location
Deep in the Wild
It was hard to know which direction he should be going or where he had been previously. In fact, he was slightly disoriented after walking for a few days. Did he panic, or was he calm because he knew what to do?!
Deep in the Wild
Stay Alive
He believed he was deeper into the park than he thought and wasn’t sure which way was the easiest and least dangerous. He knew he’d stay alive if he kept moving, so that’s what he thought about while he went deeper into the mountains.
Stay Alive
Must Sleep
Austin was absolutely exhausted when the sun went down each night, so he had to get some sleep. However, he was afraid of what he might encounter in the dead of night. He had to keep up his strength but wasn’t sure what to do.
Must Sleep
Hungry
He’d been foraging for food but had no success. His stomach growled for a few days, but it subsided after a week. In fact, he was tapping into his survival mode. He thought about his mother all the time and knew she’d be worried and upset.
Hungry
Searching Everywhere
Austin was far from where people were searching, so he didn’t hear the helicopters and wasn’t near the river where the boats were. K9 units ran among the trees to locate him, but they weren’t in the right spot because they didn’t know where he was.
Searching Everywhere
Hearing Helicopters
One day, Austin actually heard the helicopter motors overhead. Though he couldn’t see because of the tree canopies, he was overjoyed to learn that people were searching for him. He had to let them know his location!
Hearing Helicopters
His Fears
When Austin learned later that he’d been one step ahead or behind the search party, he got very emotional. On the 11th day, he saw something that made him jump for joy. What was it?!
His Fears
Boats and Kayaks
Ahead of him, Austin saw kayaks and boats on the river. He mustered up all the energy he had and called out to them. When the boat owner looked up, he immediately knew they’d found the boy they were after. Finally, Austin would be home safe.
Boats And Kayaks
