Human Remains Found in Remote Pisgah National Forest Near Yancey County Line

Hunters scouting a remote stretch of Pisgah National Forest near the Yancey County line discovered human remains Thursday evening, launching an overnight investigation that brought together multiple agencies across treacherous terrain in northeast Buncombe County.

Deputies from the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office responded just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday to the area near 87 Coleman Boundary Road, a rugged corridor in the Big Ivy section of Pisgah that sits at the far northern edge of Buncombe County. The Barnardsville Fire Department and Buncombe County EMS joined the response, with crews working through the night to access and process the scene.

BCSO District 2 Captain Chris Stockton acknowledged the difficulty of the recovery. "Our Criminal Investigations Division and CSI team will work with the U.S. Forest Service to provide answers and closure to those impacted by this investigation," Stockton said. "We appreciate the work of the members of the Barnardsville Fire Department, Buncombe County EMS, and Buncombe County Sheriff's Office who worked together to navigate treacherous terrain throughout the night to ensure a thorough investigation could be accomplished."

The remains were described as being in an advanced stage of decomposition, meaning visual identification at the scene was not possible. Investigators transported the remains for forensic examination, and the case now depends on autopsy results to establish both who the person was and how they died. That process will most likely require forensic fingerprint analysis, dental record comparison, or DNA testing, and can take days to weeks. Cause and manner of death, whether accidental, natural, or something else, hinges on those same results.

Because the discovery occurred on federal land, U.S. Forest Service personnel are jointly involved in scene management and any further recovery work, standard protocol for deaths within national forest boundaries.

Investigators are now cross-referencing active missing-person reports to determine whether anyone previously reported missing in or near Buncombe and Yancey counties matches the circumstances. The BCSO asks anyone with knowledge of a missing person, or anyone who knows someone who may have been in the Coleman Boundary Road area, to contact the sheriff's office directly.

The Coleman Boundary Road trailhead, reached from Barnardsville off Dillingham Road about six miles into the national forest, draws hikers, hunters, and other outdoor users year-round. Authorities have not restricted trail access at this time and have stated there is no indication of an immediate public safety threat in the surrounding area.

If forensic findings point to foul play, the investigation would likely expand to include additional agencies and broader evidence gathering, including last known contact records and vehicle searches. Until results arrive, the BCSO and U.S. Forest Service continue managing the Coleman Boundary Road site as an active investigation.