District Attorney General Russell Johnson said today the search, led by Sheriff Wayne Potter, is continuing for clues in the disappearance of Kevin Hamby. He was reported missing from his home in the Gobey area of Morgan County in mid-November 2017. Hamby’s 2017 Polaris RZR was located on a steep slope of Pilot Mountain this past Monday (March 22, 2021).

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is flying one of their larger helicopters to the scene this afternoon to try and remove the RZR from its location on the slope against a tree.

In regards to the RZR, authorities say an impact mark was found on the tree from where the radial arm of the RZR hit it and the mark has grown (assuming the RZR has not slid down) some distance upward with the tree growth. The district attorney’s office contacted University of Tennessee forestry professor John Barksley who identified the photo of the tree as a red maple. Barksley referred officers to Martin Shubert who is the area state forest manager.

Shubert was on his way to the scene as of this morning to help Sheriff Potter to see what analysis he can lend, given growth of smaller saplings around the RZR, and the growth of the red maple to attempt to determine how long the RZR has rested against the tree. This will help determine whether the timeframe is consistent with November 2017 or if they have something totally different with the RZR possibly being taken to the ridge and maybe pushed over the slope. Authorities say the key was in the switch, but off. The RZR was still in gear.

The District Attorney’s office says there have been so many rumors and conspiracy theories about Kevin Hamby‘s disappearance. They are trying to eliminate any possibility other than him become lost, driving off trail and crashing into this tree.

More information will be released at a later time.