Identified! GA - Springer Mtn, Benton MacKaye Trail, Unk Male, UP88987, poss hiker, Jan'22 - Stephen Lucas Ryan

[Curious_in_NC]

The GBI announced on their facebook page they have identified the hiker.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation

"The GBI has identified the male hiker found on January 21, 2022, off the Benton MacKaye Trail in Fannin County Georgia as Stephen Lucas Ryan, 41, of Pennsylvania. This identification was made because of the work of the FBI, GBI Crime Lab and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
Thank you to those that shared information to help identify the hiker."
Rest in Peace Mr. Ryan.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

More MSM links. So far there's no information on what he was doing in the area or if he was indeed hiking on the AT. I couldn't find any indication that Ryan was ever reported as missing.

GBI identifies hiker found dead in Fannin County as Pennsylvania man

Stephen Lucas Ryan identified as hiker found dead north Georgia | 11alive.com

 

[PatLaurel]

I found a couple of photos of the deceased and i'm impressed with the accuracy of the artist's sketch. Probably one of the most accurate sketches I've seen so far. Kudos to the GBI Forensic Artist! KL did a great work! No wonder SLR was identified so quickly! MOO JMO

RIP SLR

 

[YaYa_521]

Rest in peace, Stephen.

 

[Nell91]

Rest in peace, Sir

 

[DrQ]

Rest in Peace and good job GBI

 

[GatorFL]

I saw a pic of him and the artists rendering was dead on.

 

[Rsolo]

I saw a pic of him and the artists rendering was dead on.

Where did you see a picture?

 

[GatorFL]

Where did you see a picture?

A very talented sleuther found pics of him and showed me.

 

[Melt71]

More MSM links. So far there's no information on what he was doing in the area or if he was indeed hiking on the AT. I couldn't find any indication that Ryan was ever reported as missing.

GBI identifies hiker found dead in Fannin County as Pennsylvania man

Stephen Lucas Ryan identified as hiker found dead north Georgia | 11alive.com

 

[Curious_in_NC]

There is an AllTrails account for Steve Ryan that matches his info. There's no recent activities, or perhaps they are set to private, but he posted a handful of trail reviews for MD and PA trails about six years ago. Pretty normal stuff. It looks like he enjoyed hiking, camping, trail running, and mountain biking. So I'm leaning toward him being there in GA to hike, rather than for some less obvious reason. MOO

 

[Melt71]

More MSM links. So far there's no information on what he was doing in the area or if he was indeed hiking on the AT. I couldn't find any indication that Ryan was ever reported as missing.

GBI identifies hiker found dead in Fannin County as Pennsylvania man

Stephen Lucas Ryan identified as hiker found dead north Georgia | 11alive.com

At least one article I read indicated that he had been reported missing in January… can’t find the exact one now, but this extract seems to lean towards him being reported as an MP
https://ontrend.news/obituary-pennsylvania-hiker-stephen-lucas-ryan-missing
SBM
The GBI officials reported that the hiker was 41-year-old Pennsylvania resident Stephen who was missing.
SBM

 

[Curious_in_NC]

At least one article I read indicated that he had been reported missing in January… can’t find the exact one now, but this extract seems to lean towards him being reported as an MP
https://ontrend.news/obituary-pennsylvania-hiker-stephen-lucas-ryan-missing
SBM
The GBI officials reported that the hiker was 41-year-old Pennsylvania resident Stephen who was missing.
SBM

For some reason, dozens of web sites have stories about him that are just re-hashing the details from the GBI press release. This seems to be one of them. I guess they're getting paid for the clicks.

Some scramble the details so badly you have to wonder if they were translated into several different languages, then back again into English. For example, in this version, "the entire briefing was finished by a person sporting a small t-shirt". EXPLAINED: STEPHEN LUCAS RYAN Cause Of Death? Pennsylvania Hiker Found Dead, Funeral & Obituary News! – News236

I still have not seen any information about whether he was thru hiking, day hiking, or if it was known if he was in that area.
ETA There is an article with a picture of him here. The rest of it is behind a paywall. Body identified | The News Observer, Blue Ridge, Georgia

 

[Narkj]

I believe he was a Marine. He has family in Pennsylvania.

 

[branmuffin]

For some reason, dozens of web sites have stories about him that are just re-hashing the details from the GBI press release. This seems to be one of them. I guess they're getting paid for the clicks.

Some scramble the details so badly you have to wonder if they were translated into several different languages, then back again into English. For example, in this version, "the entire briefing was finished by a person sporting a small t-shirt". EXPLAINED: STEPHEN LUCAS RYAN Cause Of Death? Pennsylvania Hiker Found Dead, Funeral & Obituary News! – News236

I still have not seen any information about whether he was thru hiking, day hiking, or if it was known if he was in that area.
ETA There is an article with a picture of him here. The rest of it is behind a paywall. Body identified | The News Observer, Blue Ridge, Georgia

True, and I've seen numerous articles mostly originating in India that show a photo of the missing/deceased person and the image they show is of Mostly Harmless/Vance Rodriguez.

 

[Narkj]

True, and I've seen numerous articles mostly originating in India that show a photo of the missing/deceased person and the image they show is of Mostly Harmless/Vance Rodriguez.

I saw that. So bizarre. The sketch definitely bore a resemblance.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

A little bit of more information about Mr. Ryan here:

Body of hiker identified | Times-Courier, Ellijay, Georgia

A body found earlier this year on Springer Mountain in Fannin County has been identified as that of Stephen Lucas Ryan, 40, of Pennsylvania.

www.timescourier.com

Fannin County Coroner Becky Callihan said the identification was made by two specialists in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Missing Persons unit.

Rebecca Hughson, Fannin County chief deputy coroner, said Friday a cause of death has not been determined.

Hughson, who headed up the local coroner’s investigation, said the 40-year-old Ryan had joined the U.S. Navy immediately after high school. He was awarded a full scholarship to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis where he earned a degree in physics. Ryan transfered to the U.S. Marine Corps and became an Osprey aircraft pilot.

 

[Soulmagent]

For some reason, dozens of web sites have stories about him that are just re-hashing the details from the GBI press release. This seems to be one of them. I guess they're getting paid for the clicks.

Some scramble the details so badly you have to wonder if they were translated into several different languages, then back again into English. For example, in this version, "the entire briefing was finished by a person sporting a small t-shirt". EXPLAINED: STEPHEN LUCAS RYAN Cause Of Death? Pennsylvania Hiker Found Dead, Funeral & Obituary News! – News236

I still have not seen any information about whether he was thru hiking, day hiking, or if it was known if he was in that area.
ETA There is an article with a picture of him here. The rest of it is behind a paywall. Body identified | The News Observer, Blue Ridge, Georgia

Oh yeah , I see what you mean . Lots of other gems in there as well.
Such as
" And reportedly lately his useless physique was present in Pennsylvania '' and " He was 41 years outdated on the time of his loss of life and his lacking case was probably the most talked-about among the many on-line people''
Welcome to case algorithms. They are going to be horrible.

 

[NeverPersonal]

I believe he was a Marine. He has family in Pennsylvania.

Off-topic but wanted to say I am such a fan of your writing. Read Sweet Last Thing the other day and it brought me to tears. Thanks for all you do.