Body of motorcyclist missing for months is found near Blue Ridge Parkway, officials say
A missing motorcyclist’s body was found near the Blue Ridge Parkway, prompting an investigation into his death, officials say.
The discovery was made off the scenic road that stretches through the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, the National Park Service said Friday in a news release.
Officials identified the man whose body was found as James Albert Hogue, who disappeared in mid-October, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The 63-year-old’s abandoned motorcycle was spotted near Thunder Ridge Overlook on Oct. 26, according to the park service. The area is close to Blue Ridge Parkway’s milepost 75 and north of Roanoke, Virginia.
“It is not uncommon for vehicles to be left at parkway overlooks for extended periods while owners are on a backcountry hike,” the park service said in its release.
But days after Hogue’s bike was found, rangers launched a search for him, according to the news release.
His body was discovered Friday morning on a trail in the Thunder Ridge area, officials say.
“The cause of death is still under investigation,” the park service said in its release.
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Body of motorcyclist missing for months is found near Blue Ridge Parkway, officials say."
