Authorities in South Carolina are searching for three children and an adult who went missing while hiking just outside of Greenville.
Just before 7 P.M. on November 24, a young boy called 911 to report that he and three others had been lost for about three hours while hiking, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Department wrote on Facebook.
The lost hikers have been identified as Tonda Michelin, 53, Melody Bangs, 14, Michael Lawton, 11, and 9-year-old Kevin “Dale” Moser.
“Based on information gathered during the call, deputies believe the group was in the area of Caesars Head State Park,” the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook. “A vehicle matching the description provided by the 911 caller—a white Nissan—was located at the Raven Cliff Falls trailhead.”
Named for its stone outcropping atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment, Caesars Head State Park offers an easily accessible trail with panoramic views. It’s surrounded by 13,000 acres of mountain woodland, part of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area.
At least 50 people are currently searching for the hikers using helicopters, drones, and UTVs.
The sheriff’s department adds that search teams are working in “rugged terrain and utilizing air, ground, and other resources to locate the hikers as quickly and safely as possible.” The Raven Cliff Falls trailhead, which provides access to a waterfall lookout near Caesars Head, is currently closed to allow emergency crews full access to the area.
“At this time, we have an ample number of resources on scene from our agency and our partnering agencies, and that number continues to grow. Because of this, we are asking the public to please stay clear of the search area so teams can work safely and efficiently,” said the sheriff’s office. “We are asking residents who live in the surrounding area to remain vigilant. Please check your properties—including any outbuildings, sheds, outhouses, or storage facilities—and contact 911 immediately if you see anything or believe you may have spotted the hikers.”
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