Local
Body of missing Black Mountain man found near Linville Gorge trailhead
Justin Lobdell, reported missing on Nov. 2, was found dead Tuesday about a quarter-mile from the Pine Gap Trailhead in Pisgah National Forest. Authorities say no foul play is suspected, but the cause of death remains under investigation.
BURKE COUNTY, N.C. â The body of a Black Mountain man who had been missing for more than a week was discovered Tuesday near a trailhead in the Linville Gorge area of Pisgah National Forest, according to Burke County emergency officials.
Justin Lobdell was found shortly before noon on Nov. 10, about a quarter-mile down the trail from the Pine Gap Trailhead, the Burke County emergency services office said in a press release.
Lobdell had been reported missing to the Black Mountain Police Department on Nov. 2. The break in the case came two days before his body was found, when an off-duty deputy noticed Lobdell's car parked at the trailhead on Sunday, Nov. 8, prompting search and rescue crews to focus on the surrounding area.
Authorities confirmed that no foul play is suspected in Lobdell's death. His cause of death was not immediately known, and he was taken to the medical examiner's office for evaluation, Burke County officials said.
"Any additional information will be released by the Black Mountain Police Department" going forward, county officials said Tuesday. No other details were available.
The discovery closes a search that drew on multiple agencies in the rugged terrain of the Linville Gorge, a popular but challenging hiking destination in the mountains of western North Carolina. The circumstances surrounding Lobdell's death remain under review by the medical examiner and Black Mountain police.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Black Mountain Police Department.