Search Underway for Missing Illinois Man in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

<p>A 57-member search team is conducting a search in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak, a 57-year-old man from Illinois who has been missing for over a week. His vehicle was located at the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot.</p><p>Bachleda-Blaszczak was last seen on August 22, 2025, according to the National Park Service (NPS). He was reported missing two days later, prompting the search efforts.</p><p>Park rangers, volunteers, and local agencies have expanded their search efforts both on and off trails, utilizing drones to cover the area, as stated by the NPS. Drones are typically prohibited in the park, which is located along the North Carolina and Tennessee border, but are being temporarily permitted for this search.</p><p>Bachleda-Blaszczak's family reported that there were no indications of anything unusual before his disappearance. His cousin, Corrina Auten, mentioned that he had a normal conversation with his father the day before he went missing, discussing plans to possibly pick up a work shift.</p><p>The search began around the Sugarlands area and has grown from 47 rangers and volunteers on Saturday to 57 by Sunday, according to the NPS.</p><p>Bachleda-Blaszczak is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing approximately 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.</p><p>Officials are urging anyone with information regarding Bachleda-Blaszczak's whereabouts to contact the Great Smoky Mountains National Park dispatch at GRSM_Dispatch@nps.gov.</p>