Douglas Michael Shockley, a 46-year-old male from Crabtree, NC, was found dead on May 16, 2015, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Shockley had been reported missing from the BridgeMill area on May 11, 2015, and his white 2015 Nissan Frontier pickup truck was found in the Pisgah National Forest in Haywood County, North Carolina. Search and rescue personnel discovered Shockley's body about three-fourths of a mile from his truck.
Authorities conducted an extensive search
involving over fifty search and rescue personnel from various agencies, including the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Medical Services, 911 and Rescue Squad, Waynesville and Canton police departments, Henderson, Jackson, and Buncombe County rescue squads, N.C. State Highway Patrol, fire departments from Fines Creek, Crabtree, Cruso, and Asheville, the State Bureau of Investigation, NC Search and Rescue Dog teams, and Independent Search & Rescue Canine Handlers.
An autopsy was performed to verify the cause of death, and it was confirmed that Shockley died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office stated that this was a tragic situation that had deeply affected Shockley's family. No arrests, suspects, litigations, or murder investigations were associated with Shockley's death, as it was determined to be a suicide.
The community and law enforcement agencies involved expressed their condolences and support for Shockley's family during this difficult time. The collaborative effort of the search and rescue teams was acknowledged and appreciated by the authorities.
