Donald Storey
Deep Creek – The family of 88-year-old Donald Storey have accepted the findings of both evidence collected from an Aug. 18 discovery and DNA testing as confirmation of his death.
The Graham County Sheriff’s Office recently confirmed to The Graham Star that family members of Storey offered their gratitude for all the office had done with the investigation, accepting the findings and indications after the understandable grieving stage of denial was surpassed.
“They were going to do more DNA testing, because the family was in denial,” Graham County sheriff’s Det. Travis Brooks said. “But they got results back that they were satisfied with.”
The Springfield, Mo., resident was reportedly on his way to visit family in Port Huron, Mich., in early July when he ventured off-course and instead traveled to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.
The last date of contact anyone had with Storey was July 5; he was seen traveling across the Tail of the Dragon in bordering Blount County, Tenn., on July 8.
Storey’s care providers in Missouri later told authorities that the former service member was in excellent health at the time of his disappearance and exhibited no signs of Alzheimer’s disease nor dementia; it may forever remain a mystery as to why he ended up in Graham County instead of his original destination.
His grey 2020 Chevrolet Blazer was first noted as parked outside a gated road in the Deep Creek portion of the forest July 25; his remains were discovered by rescue member Brent Eller on Aug. 18, just as crews were wrapping up search efforts.
No foul play was ever suspected, as deputies found Storey’s Blazer locked, with travel clothing neatly folded and a large sum of money inside the vehicle untouched.
“All the pieces fell into place,” Stevens said. “God meant for him to be found.”