[at-l] Scott Lilly update

Sun Feb 12 21:02:08 CST 2012

I really hope this one gets solved.  It's hitting just too close to home.  I encountered Stonewall on my hike this past summer, and was hiking in that same area, but didn't visit that shelter.  My concern is what was the motive?   The FBI said that there was no reason to believe that hikers were being targeted, but then why was Scott attacked.  While this won't deter me from continuing my section hike, I am very disturbed by this.

Sent from my HTC Inspire™ 4G on AT&T

----- Reply message -----
From: "RockDancer" <rockdancer97 at comcast.net>
To: <at-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: [at-l] Scott Lilly update
Date: Sun, Feb 12, 2012 11:02 am
This is from Saturday’s Washington Post online. The incident was in August but we (I assume all of us) had been left in the dark about the reason the FBI thought the death suspicious. It’s in the blog called “The Crime Scene”. The second article is the Friday source for the blog, and it has some additional details of time and place, stuff we’ve heard here before. --RD Man found dead on Appalachian trail ruled strangledBy Associated PressROANOKE, Va. — An autopsy has concluded that an Indiana man whose body was found off the Appalachian Trail in Virginia was suffocated.The body of Scott Lilly of South Bend was found Aug. 12 in Amherst County by hikers. The News & Advance of Lynchburg says the Roanoke medical examiner released the cause of death on Friday.Lilly’s remains were discovered just off the trail in the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area east of the Blue Ridge Parkway.The FBI calls the death suspicious. The agency is investigating because the body was found on federal lands.Hikers who had seen Lilly said he was traveling alone and toting a lot of gear.Appalachian Trail Hiker’s death ruled homicideLynchburg News & AdvanceChris Dumond The death of an Indiana man found near the Appalachian Trail in Amherst County six months ago has been ruled a homicide.An autopsy report from the Roanoke Office of the Chief Medical Examiner indicated Scott Lilly died of “asphyxia by suffocation,” Western District Administrator Tracie Cooper said Friday.Hikers found Lilly’s remains Aug. 12 just off the trail in the Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area north of U.S. 60, east of the Blue Ridge Parkway.The FBI, which is investigating since the body was found on federal lands, stated in press releases only that the death was considered suspicious.The state autopsy remained pending as late as December while the pathologist awaited the results of forensic testing.Except to generate leads in a September plea for help tracking down hikers who were in Lilly’s vicinity during his hike, the bureau has released little information.Regarding public safety, bureau press releases stated no information has been developed to lead investigators to believe hikers are at risk, but encourage trail users to exercise “the usual precautions.”Whether that literally means investigators don’t know or they have information Lilly was specifically targeted has gone unanswered under a Department of Justice policy not to comment about ongoing investigations, cited by a bureau spokeswoman Friday.Hikers contacted by investigators told The News & Advance Lilly had been camping on the trail near The Priest in late July — the last time he was heard from by his family. Hikers who saw him said he was hiking alone and carrying a lot of gear.The 4,000-foot mountain is a day or two north on foot from where the body was found.Lilly traveled under the trail name “Stonewall.”Anyone with information may call the FBI 24 hours a day at (804) 261-1044.   Arthur D. GaudetRockDancer on the Appalachian TrailRockdancer97 at comcast.net
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