Illinois man missing more than a week as crews scour Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A 57-member search team is combing Great Smoky Mountains National Park for an Illinois man who has been missing for more than a week after his vehicle was found at a popular visitor center.

Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak was last known to be at the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot on August 22, 2025, according to the National Park Service (NPS). He was reported missing two days later and his vehicle was then found in the visitor center’s parking lot.

Park rangers and volunteers, along with local agencies...