New details in search for Blount County teen still missing in Smokies, Park officials request canine search teams from TEMA

Austin Bohanan was last seen wearing a blue
Nike baseball cap, unknown color t-shirt & jeans.

UPDATE Aug. 16: The search continues for missing Blount County teen Austin Bohanan, who was reported missing in the Great Smoky Mountains Park officials on Sunday by family members, although he has actually been missing since Friday.

Bohanan was reportedly last seen hiking off-trail in the remote southwest corner of the park on the evening of Friday, Aug. 11. Family members reported him missing at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13 to the park’s Emergency Communication Center.

On social media, Bohanan's birth mother Christa Dyer posted to family and friends, saying Bohanan had gone missing while hiking with her husband on Friday. "He left with my husband Friday to go hiking on Chehowee [sic] Lake and they got separated. He's always right behind and then he wasn't. We have been all over that place all weekend looking for him ..." Dyer wrote.

Search and Rescue at morning briefing.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials reported that late yesterday afternoon, Tennessee Highway Patrol utilized a Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter to conduct visual search of the area with no significant findings.

This morning five search teams consisting of rangers from the park’s Search and Rescue team, officers with Tennessee Wildlife Resource Authority and individuals with the Backcountry Unit Search and Rescue team (BUSAR) have a total of 24 individuals searching the area.

Park officials have also requested the assistance of two canine search teams through Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to assist with search efforts.

At this time, search operations remain limited to a select number of trained searchers to enable a systematic, thorough search of the area. By limiting the number of searchers in the area, rangers have the best chance to find Bohanan quickly. Dog teams and trackers can be hampered by additional people in the area when searchers are looking for signs of hiker travel.

Bohanan is a white male between 5’2”-5’5” feet tall, weighs between 120-150 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, unknown color t-shirt, and blue Nike baseball cap. If anyone has seen Bohanan since Friday evening please call the park at (865) 436-1230.

Members of the National Park Service, TWRA and
BUSAR team have their morning briefing
regarding the search for Austin Bohanan.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers are searching for a Blount County teen believed to be lost in the southwest area of the park. Eighteen-year old, Austin Bohanan was reported missing at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 13.

Rangers initiated a ground search on Monday morning, August 14, with 13 members of the Park Search and Rescue Team.

The search is focused in the southwest area of the park near Highway 129.

No additional details are available at this time.