A hiker who began a hike-thru of the Appalachian Trail Friday was found dead Wednesday afternoon in Dawson County.
Authorities held a press conference Wednesday night, telling reporters the body of Eddie Noonkester, 60, had been discovered about one mile southwest of the Hike Inn Trail.
Noonkester, a hiker from North Carolina who had apparently planned to hike the AT all the way to Maine, called a friend Sunday morning and appeared to be confused. The friend contacted 9-1-1 on his behalf and explained to the dispatcher that Noonkester was experiencing some cramping. Noonkester himself called 9-1-1 around 11:20 a.m. but was unable to tell emergency services where he was located.
According to Dawson County fir and EMA chief Danny Thompson, many different agencies aided in the search to help find Noonkester including local law enforcement, Dawson County Fire and Emergency Services, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and community despite treacherous weather from heavy rain.
Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson said foul play was not suspected in Noonkester's death, but authorities would not know how the hiker died until after an autopsy. The GBI will conduct the autopsy on Noonkester's body.
