News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The deceased hiker who passed away after a multi-hour rescue effort at Fall Creek Falls has been identified.
Van Buren Sheriff Michael Brock said 46-year-old Nathan Bayless was known to frequent the woods in and around his home. Brock said the Medical Examiner said Bayless’s death was directly weather related.
“Where he resided was very near the Fall Creek Falls State Park property,” Brock said. “So he had walked from his home through an area of the woods that we believe that he frequented a lot and made his way into the park property.”
The search took place January 17 during the worst of the winter cold. Brock said the initial search for Bayless began because his mother notified the authorities that something was wrong when Bayless failed to return home at a specified time.
Brock said it was very common for Bayless to be in the woods in that area.
