What is considered to be the longest search for a missing person in Graham County to date occurred in 1988.
That year, Jim Michelic, 25 from New Berlin, Wis., came to the Cheoah Ranger Station on Sunday, Sept. 25.
Michelic spoke with U.S. Forest Service employee Dave Gustafson of his desire to hike in remote forest areas, to get away from people. Michelic purchased maps of the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock and Citico Wilderness areas and left for the Walker Inn in Andrews, where he was staying.
The next day, Michelic left Andrews for the wilderness areas, leaving behind some items and advising staff at the Inn that he would return for them after his trip.
The following day – Sept. 27 – he was seen on the Wolf Laurel Trail by John Wisham and John Brown of Andrews. This was to be the last time Michelic would be seen alive by anyone, and his fate would remain unknown until Oct. 17.
Wisham and Brown later advised searchers of having seen Michelic and stating that he seemed to be tired and sweaty. On Saturday, Oct. 1, heavy rains drenched the area, wiping out footprints and any other evidence Michelic might have
left.
The following Monday – Oct. 3 – the U.S. Forest Service was informed that Michelic is missing. He had not returned to the Walker Inn to pick up items he had left as planned, and did not arrive in Atlanta to visit friends, also on his schedule.
District Ranger Steve Rickerson had a meeting with Hoot Gibbs, Russ Arthur and myself, and search plans were made to attempt to locate his vehicle and camp.
The next day – Oct. 4 – myself and Gibbs searched Strawberry Knob – elevation 4,500 feet – and Stratton Bald, elevation 5,341 feet. Heavy fog limited visibility to a few feet.
I spotted a tent off to the edge of Stratton Bald, but there was no one around. When the tent was checked, a large amount of rainwater was discovered inside, as the tent flap had been left open. The tent did not appear to have been occupied since it was pitched.
A backpack was tied up in a nearby tree. It contained trail mix, but only a very small portion had been eaten. There were no footprints around the tent or any evidence of recent use. This prompted me to tell Gibbs that I think we are looking for a body, not a live person.
Meanwhile, Arthur and Rickerson discovered Michelic’s vehicle in the Wolf Laurel Trailhead parking lot. At this point, the adjacent area was searched, including all of Stratton Bald, Naked Ground, the Hangover, and Wolf Laurel Trail.
The N.C. Forest Service did an aerial search with a helicopter. I later learned that he had come within 1/10 of a mile or so of Michelic on the first day of the search, in dense rhododendron and laurel.
Part 2 of this column will appear in next week’s edition of The Graham Star.
Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star.