Search crews in Smokies find body of missing hiker Susan Clements

The body of an Ohio woman was found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park late Tuesday afternoon, a week after she went missing while hiking with her daughter near Clingmans Dome, according to park officials.

Search crews found the body of Mitzie Sue "Susan" Clements approximately two miles west of the Clingmans Dome parking area and three-quarters of a mile south of the Appalachian Trail, according to a park news release.

Her cause of death is unclear at this time.

Clements, 53, of Cleves, Ohio, had been missing since Sept. 25, when she and her daughter became separated during a hike on the Forney Ridge Trail, roughly a quarter-mile from Andrews Bald.

The daughter reported Clements missing shortly after hiking ahead and losing sight of her mother around 5 p.m., according to park spokeswoman Julena Campbell.

Search effort had manpower, technology

Park officials searched the immediate area that night without success. The next day, a group of seasoned searchers spent the night on the Appalachian Trail, attempting to find Clements and interview any hikers in the area.

The search grew in size and scope as crews braved rain, fog, wind and temperatures in the 40s to scour the densely wooded, mountainous area of the park, which straddles Tennessee and North Carolina.

Officials closed Clingmans Dome Road and set up a command post there. Verizon brought in a portable cell tower to help fix the spotty reception in the area. Crews employed helicopters, canine teams and specialized search-and-rescue drones as the number of agencies involved continued to climb. By Tuesday, more than 100 people from 45 organizations had joined the search.

Teams used satellite GPS units to keep track of which areas had already been searched. Scientists with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory stitched together aerial photographs from their drones, assigned geographic coordinates to each pixel, and used the composite images to better understand the treacherous terrain.

Campbell, the park spokeswoman, said officials also worked with doctors who shed insight into the types of behavior Clements might exhibit under various circumstances.

"There's a lot that goes into managing a search, a lot of technology and psychological science as to what people do in these situations," Campbell said Tuesday.

Clements worked for City of Cincinnati, had 3 children

Clements worked as an accounting technician in the administration department of the City of Cincinnati's Metropolitan Sewer District, according to a statement from the district. Cleves, the small town Clements hailed from, is about 16 miles northwest of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld said words couldn't do justice to the sadness of Clements' death, whom he called a "beloved mother, friend and longtime employee of the city of Cincinnati."

"We will pull together to do everything we can to support her family, friends and co-workers during this time of grieving," he said. "My colleagues and I, and the whole city workforce, will also ensure we find a meaningful way to remember and honor her."

Co-worker David Stephens, an IT service manager for the sewer district, posted on social media, calling Clements "one of the most genuinely nice people I've ever met. Always a cheerful good morning and some small talk on her way past my office to get her daily ice water."

Clements' family did not speak to the media during the search except to say she was a "wonderful mother to three children." She was hiking with her youngest daughter on this trip.

A GoFundMe campaign that appears to have been created by Elizabeth Clements, another of Clements' daughters, had raised $3,500 as of Tuesday night.

"Since my family is from the Cincinnati, Ohio area, we have decided to start a GoFundMe page to help cover the unexpected travel expenses that come with staying in the area for this search process," the fundraising page reads.

"More than anything, we would appreciate your continued prayers for my mom to be located safe and soon. We are so incredibly thankful for the many organizations helping make this search possible, and for each individual search member for being so kind, supportive, and positive throughout this entire process."

The City of Cincinnati said Clements' brother-in-law, who is a firefighter, traveled to the park with some of his colleagues to help out with the search. Park visitors reported seeing her former husband and other family members passing out flyers bearing her picture.

Park officials previously said foul play was not suspected in Clements' disappearance. They did not immediately offer further details after her body was found late Tuesday afternoon.

"Our hearts are with the family and friends of Ms. Clements," the park said in the release. "The park would like to extend our appreciation to the many agencies and organizations that participated in the search effort."

Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Max Londberg contributed to this story.