Mystery Behind OH Woman Lost In Smoky Mountains May Never Be Solved

Mitzie Sue “Susan” Clements, a 53-year-old from Cleves, Ohio, vanished on September 25, 2018, while hiking with her daughter in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The two had hiked to Andrews Bald via the Forney Ridge Trail, starting from the Clingmans Dome parking area.

Around 5:30 p.m., a quarter-mile into their return hike, Susan chose not to climb to the Clingmans Dome observation tower, opting to meet her daughter back at the car. She never arrived.

Dense fog, rain, and fading daylight complicated the scene, and her daughter reported her missing that night. Search efforts began immediately, involving over 100 personnel from 45 agencies, including canine teams, drones, and a National Guard helicopter.

On October 2, Susan’s body was found in the rugged Huggins Creek drainage, two miles west of the parking lot and three-quarters of a mile south of the Appalachian Trail.

An autopsy revealed she died of hypothermia, with dehydration as a contributing factor, and no signs of foul play. Clad in a light sweater, leggings, nylon workout pants, and a clear rain poncho, Susan was unprepared for the cold, wet conditions at the high elevation.

Her path veered off-trail into dense rhododendron thickets, leaving the mystery of how she became so disoriented unresolved.