Great Smoky Mountains Expands Search for Missing Illinois Man
Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak was last seen at Sugarlands Visitor Center on August 22, with his vehicle located two days later.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is continuing a multi-agency search for an Illinois man who disappeared from the park more than a week ago, the National Park Service said Sunday.
Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak was reported missing on the evening of August 24, according to the park's notice. Following the report, rangers located his vehicle in the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot. Investigators have determined his last known location was that same parking area two days earlier, on August 22.
Search teams are conducting both on-trail and off-trail sweeps within a perimeter surrounding the visitor center, the park said. Operations have now expanded beyond park boundaries as the investigation widens. Bachleda-Blaszczak is described as five feet six inches tall, approximately 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
The park is working with multiple partner agencies to cover ground in the 522,000-acre preserve, which straddles the Tennessee–North Carolina border and draws more than 13 million visitors annually. Investigators are pursuing all leads and attempting to piece together Bachleda-Blaszczak's plans prior to his disappearance.
The NPS is asking anyone who may have seen Bachleda-Blaszczak or has information about his whereabouts to come forward. Those with details are asked to contact SmokiesTips@nps.gov.
The search remains active as of August 31, one week after the initial missing-person report.
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