Investigators Seek Information in Death of Man Found in Smoky Mountains

The National Park Service Investigative Services Branch investigators are trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of 64-year-old David Junior Carver, whose remains were found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park earlier this month.

Carver was last seen at his Rockford, Tenn. home on April 29. His family reported him missing to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office on June 2.

An off-trail hiker found Carver’s body in an area off Laurel Creek Road in the park on July 8, 2019. Laurel Creek Road extends from Little River Road at the Townsend Wye to Cades Cove Loop Road. The remains appeared to be several months old. The Knox Country Regional Forensic Center positively identified Carver through comparison of medical records.

According to Carver’s family, he was an avid ginseng hunter and made money selling ginseng. He may have been ginseng hunting in the Great Smoky Mountains at the time of his death.

Anyone with information about Carver’s death, or can help investigators determine how Carver got to the park or what he was doing there, should contact investigators.

Callers may remain anonymous if they choose. Monetary rewards may be available to those who provide credible information that aids the investigation.

Please contact the ISB investigators through any of the following means:

• CALL or TEXT the ISB Tip Line at 888-653-0009
• ONLINE at www.nps.gov/isb and click “Submit a Tip”
• EMAIL nps_isb@nps.gov
• MESSAGE on Facebook @InvestigativeServicesNPS or Twitter @SpecialAgentNPS or Instagram @SpecialAgent_NPS