From the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office: Investigators have identified the deceased hiker found at the Matt Creek Shelter yesterday morning as Rodney Montgomery, age 59, Otis Orchard, Washington. Investigators contacted a brother in Washington late yesterday. The brother advised that he had two brothers hiking together on the Appalachian Trial. Investigators contacted the second brother, by cell phone, and learned he was in Troutville. He told investigators that they were hiking to Georgia and last week his brother not sick. The two of them stayed at the Matt Creek Shelter for a couple of days. On Friday, April 18, 2014, he left his brother and they agreed to meet in Troutville to continue their trip. Investigators have spoken to several hikers, who all corroborate the facts.
(Continue reading for the initial sheriff’s office news release.)
PRESS RELEASE
April 21, 2014
Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call Monday morning at 9:18 a.m. reporting a deceased male hiker on the Appalachian Trail. The caller, who was not hiking with the deceased, advised the body was located at Matts Creek’s Shelter. Bedford County Fire and Rescue units along with Bedford County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the scene. After arriving on the scene, deputies interviewed several hikers who said they talked to the victim late yesterday. They advised that the victim commented “he wasn’t having a good day”. At this time foul play is not suspected in the death. The body is being transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Roanoke for autopsy. The name and age of the victim is not being released pending notification of family.
