Adam's Gap body that of missing Oxford man

[jaybird]

From July -- Authorities discovered the body of Adam Chase Harris, 26, of Oxford, Tuesday near Adam’s Gap Trailhead in the Talladega National Forest, said Clay County Deputy Coroner David Holcombe.

Family members reported Harris missing late last week, sparking an investigation. His body was being taken Tuesday to a forensics laboratory in Montgomery for an autopsy. Holcombe declined to provide the cause of death pending the results.

On Monday, a state game warden spotted an abandoned vehicle near the trailhead, Holcombe said. Holcombe would not say if the car found was Harris’ green 1997 Toyota Corolla. A 10-person search crew from the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Clay County Rescue Squad and a state game warden searched overnight. They found the body at approximately 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Holcombe said.

No one had heard from Harris since Thursday when he reportedly called relatives to say he’d run out of gas on Kentuck Road. His wife, Diana, went to look for him after he failed to arrive home that night, but she never spotted his car.

Kentuck Road is near Talladega County, which led authorities to begin a multi-agency search in Clay and Talladega counties. The Talladega County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Oxford police began running down leads, but found nothing, said Sgt. L.G. Owens, an Oxford police investigator.

“He was reported missing in our city and leads that we had run down didn’t turn up anything,” Owens said.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation following the discovery. Attempts to reach officials at that office Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Contact staff writer Laura Johnson at 256-235-3544.



Read more: Anniston Star - Missing Oxford man found dead Tuesday

[weathermansam]

I think I'm staying the hell away from that neck of the state for a while.  jeez. 

[squidbilly]

I think I'm staying the hell away from that neck of the state for a while.  jeez.  

Here is the article....from July.

[dogwood]

Thanks Squid...i have some friends who went backpacking from Adams Gap to the Park Headquarters around that time frame, and they were talking about people searching for the guy back then.  I wonder what would have happened if they'd hiked south instead of north....

[weathermansam]

I've been warned in the past not to leave a vehicle at Adam's Gap or the High Falls Trailheads....is this more because of the drug activity in the area or vandalizing locals? 

[squidbilly]

Both reasons I would guess. Plus, these trailheads seem more remote. Less chance of getting busted breaking into vehicles.

[jaybird]

Strange that this episode has been kept so quiet ... since July. No updates, no follow-ups.

I had my entire front windshield broken out on a dayhike at Adams once. Will never park there again.

[schlanky]

Speaking of break-ins in that area--About a month ago, someone told me he was parked at the Lake Chinnabee day use lot and returned to TH to find that someone had tried to pry the door open. They didn't get in, but did some damage to the door. He said he had nothing at all visible in the vehicle, but they tried it anyway. This was on a weekday during daylight.

[wirerat123]

May I suggest a ghillie suit and a stun gun?

There are some instances where law enforcement just doesn't really try too hard to prevent or stop these types of things from happening.  The best way to catch these criminals is to catch them in the act via setting up a dummy vehicle and monitoring the vehicle from a close enough location and catch them red handed.  If law Enforcement would bust a couple of these yahoos in the act, and the rest will think twice.  But that take effort on their part to actually do their jobs to protect citizens.

There will come a point in time where some hillbilly with a pistol will bring his family to the park to go for a short hike.  He will catch someone trying to voilate his personal vehicle, and he will protect his posessions and family by whatever means necessary.  Since the people doing these acts don't care about they law, they will do whatever to get away.  Someone will end up dead or seriously injured (very well could have been the case here, someone caught in the act by someone finishing a hike, the criminal kills them to minimize risk of being caught).

Sadly I intended to get started on the Pinhoti next year.  But do I feel safe enough now to go there and risk my posessions or self to do it?  Answer is "Not without personal protection.".

Better safe then sorry.

Are we going to have to start setting up security cameras in the woods???

[squidbilly]

May I suggest a ghillie suit and a stun gun?

There are some instances where law enforcement just doesn't really try too hard to prevent or stop these types of things from happening.  The best way to catch these criminals is to catch them in the act via setting up a dummy vehicle and monitoring the vehicle from a close enough location and catch them red handed.  If law Enforcement would bust a couple of these yahoos in the act, and the rest will think twice.  But that take effort on their part to actually do their jobs to protect citizens.
This is exactly what the county did at a popular climbing area near Chattanooga, after several people reported the break-ins. After a few arrests the vandalism and thievery stopped .

There will come a point in time where some hillbilly with a pistol will bring his family to the park to go for a short hike.  He will catch someone trying to voilate his personal vehicle, and he will protect his posessions and family by whatever means necessary.   We can only hope!    Since the people doing these acts don't care about they law, they will do whatever to get away.  Someone will end up dead or seriously injured (very well could have been the case here, someone caught in the act by someone finishing a hike, the criminal kills them to minimize risk of being caught).

Sadly I intended to get started on the Pinhoti next year.  But do I feel safe enough now to go there and risk my posessions or self to do it?  Answer is "Not without personal protection.". You're safe as you are anywhere in North East Alabama--Meth capitol of the Southeast(it seems anyway)

Better safe then sorry.

Are we going to have to start setting up security cameras in the woods??? It would be neat to have them at the trailheads, like the remotely controlled weather cams.

When you decide to start on the Pinhoti let me know, maybe we can work out some logistical support.

[Firedog]

I'm with wirerat, If I'm not going to fuss about the weight or the debate, If I'm treckin, I'm packin.

[crowculbertson]

Just out of curiosity what are your thoughts having a stun gun on the trail. I know little about them. Are we dealing with nothing better than mace?

[MobileBackpacker]

wow, so it happened in july and nothing is out there as to how he died?

[trailtigger]

This makes me rethink my plans of not carrying a side arm during my 8 day hike.

[weathermansam]

I have a battle ax, sharp but it's cumbersome. 

[wirerat123]

I have a battle ax, sharp but it's cumbersome. 

Now that would make the thieves think twice..

Strap to your pack and go!

[Magic City Matt]

Ahhhh the old gun on the trail debate. Guess it does come around about once a year. Like I say I am all for people not being afraid on the trail. If your gun makes you not afraid then sure go ahead. However the very worst thing on earth is a scared person with a gun. Don't be that person.
Also if a person follows you out onto the trail with the intent of doing something to you just remember that your problem started before you were there. Don't blame the trail. Chances are no one is just going to follow a random person out onto the trail for a few miles to kill them or do them harm. 1 it is really hard cover up you tracks that far out in the woods. 2 Why would you follow a random person several miles when there are so many other random people so easily accessible elsewhere?
I am going with the adams gap body was a dump.

m

[crowculbertson]

Thanks for joining Matt.

I will share this. When I read the Anniston Star article my brother and I were planning a Bull Gap - Cheaha TH hike. We took a trip to the Cheaha store and inquired as to some status of the investigation. A local staff member (one you would expect to have knowledge) seemed to know something but brushed off the inquiry with a laugh suggesting it was not a shooting. His response made us more curious. I made contact with a "recreation technician" for the Talladega Ranger District just to gain information about the trail more specifically hunting season schedules. We exchanged several emails and he was most helpful. In my last email to him I asked if he could share any information about the status of Adam Harris. He did not respond again.

I emailed the author of the article (Laura Johnson) inquiring as to some status. I received no response. 

I have not seen subsequent articles.

[wirerat123]

Well I guess that we just have to assume the worst.  If it was something natural and simple, they would have been quick to get the word out to dispel any fears people have about coming to the trails.  Seems like they would want people to be informed if you ask me.  But things happen even in the most remote and safe areas.  Just be aware out there.

And yes, some people have walked a lot of miles and spent a lot of time and energy studying, stalking, and killing their intended victims.  May be rare, but who am I to deny such a thing, especially when I would have my daughter and wife with me?  Safety of myself and my family is paramount.

[crowculbertson]

My thought is that we would have heard further information if some laws were broken. If no laws were broken then it becomes a matter of the privacy desires of the family or the area. I will use what we know in making decisions on personal safety but will respect the desires of the family and/or the area.

[Firedog]

Ok, I've held out long as I can. The local story is that the victim was being chased near Oxford, not even close to where he ended up and went to the woods to get away. They found his car at the trail head and his body out in the woods. He was not a hiker  or even a camper in the area. He knew the area and thought he could get away from his persuers but didn't. Rumor has it that he was beaten to death. Bad deal either way. I wouldn't be afraid to park there or hike the area any more than before. I do feel Turnipseed is a much better place to park. I'm sure there is an ongoing investigation so not much has been released to the papers.

[buck]

Firedog and I both have heard the same story from locals and, in my case, second hand from a member of the victim's family. The problems the victim had in his life which did/may have led to his death were not even remotely related to hiking. Sadly, it all just happen to come to an end near the trail.

[jaybird]

Ok, I've held out long as I can. The local story is that the victim was being chased near Oxford, not even close to where he ended up and went to the woods to get away. They found his car at the trail head and his body out in the woods.

The million dollar question -- Is there any notion as to whether he was killed elsewhere and dumped at Adams Gap, or was he chased to the Adams Gap trailhead and then ran into the woods and beaten right there??

[weathermansam]

scooby doo where are you?

[Firedog]

The local story/rumor we've heard he drove there and was out of gas but had lost his persuers for a spell, but they found him there. His car was found at the trail head and he was out in the woods from there. Never have heard what the medical examiners report said.

[jaybird]

scooby doo where are you?

Sam, you've gotta stop smokin crack before you come to the forums.

[weathermansam]

Sam, you've gotta stop smokin crack before you come to the forums.

Zooiks!  You're trying to steal my scooby snacks!

[jaybird]

Oh, now I get it Sam.  You're trying to link two topics of the forum together -- juvenile behavior of the arsonists with just plain juvenile behavior.  You're so witty.

[ednotmilkman]

I thought WM Sam was refering to Scooby's uncanny, or is it uncanine, ability to solve a mystery like this one, even if he gets scared in the process and mayh not even realize he solved it until Velma tells him so.

[jaybird]

6'3", 180 pounds.  Adam Chase Harris, 26.  A face to go with the name.  This is no joking matter.

Adam's Gap body that of missing Oxford man

[crowculbertson]

There is a memorial for Adam on Facebook.

I suspect that is where this photo came from.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=133754216664876