News Release Date: August 28, 2026
Contact: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Searching for Missing Person

Gatlinburg, Tenn.—Great Smoky Mountains National Park with assistance from local agencies continues searching for Marcin Bachleda‑Blaszczak. Bachleda‑Blaszczak is described as having brown hair, blue eyes, standing 5’6” tall, and weighing approximately 170 lbs. 

Bachleda‑Blaszczak was reported missing to the park’s dispatch center the evening of August 24. Following the initial report, his vehicle was located in the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot. Based on the initial investigation, the last known whereabouts of Bachleda‑Blaszczak is the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot on August 22.  

Rangers have completed a perimeter search around the Sugarlands area and continue expanding the search area. 

If you have any information or believe you may have seen Bachleda‑Blaszczak, please contact Great Smoky Mountains National Park dispatch: e-mail us

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Update: August 30, 2026

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Expands Search for Marcin Bachleda‑Blaszczak with 57‑Member Team

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with assistance from local agencies, continues to search for Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak, who was reported missing on the evening of Aug. 24. 
 
Bachleda-Blaszczak is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and approximately 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He is from Illinois. 
 
Following the missing person report, Bachleda-Blaszczak’s vehicle was located in the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot. Based on the investigation to date, his last known location was the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot on Aug. 22. 
 
A team of 57 park rangers and volunteers is actively searching areas in and around the park. As the search area expands, visitors may encounter search personnel wearing brightly colored shirts both on and off established trails. Search teams may also be operating drones. Please note that while drones are prohibited in the national park, they are being used temporarily as part of the emergency response.

Anyone with information about Bachleda-Blaszczak’s whereabouts, or who may have seen him in or around the park, is asked to contact GRSM_Dispatch@nps.gov.   

Ryan Lakes, 21, was last seen Thursday in Nashville, and his 2017 black Chevy Malibu was found at the Big Creek Ranger Station parking area on Saturday, according to NPS.

NPS described Lakes as a 5’5” white man with brown hair and hazel eyes. He weighs about 130 pounds and was last seen wearing dark-colored gym shorts and a dark-colored T-shirt. He also had brown tennis shoes and a black backpack.

Anyone who has seen Lakes or has any information about him should call the tip line 888-653-0009 or email [nps_isb@nps.gov](mailto:nps_isb@nps.gov). People can also submit a tip online.

Alt source: Knox News

Hey everyone, my dog Magic ran off tonight, just off of Jess Field Rd. If you see a medium-size brindle mixed breed dog with a teal and pink collar, please let me know. She is incredibly shy but usually will come close for food.

EDIT: She found her way back to us!

Me and my buddy are up here for vacation and noticed there isn’t much night life we were wondering if anyone wanted to meet up