Man says he’s taking a walk then vanishes, TN cops say. 6 years later, body identified
Human remains found in 2023 have been identified as a man who’s been missing for more than six years, Tennessee deputies said.
The body was identified as William Cross, who was reported missing in May 2018, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office said in a March 21 news release.
“Mr. Cross’ family has been notified and has requested privacy during this difficult time,” deputies said in the release. “We ask that the community keep the family, friends, and all those involved in your thoughts and prayers.”
A teenager found parts of Cross’ body in October 2023 by a stream in a wooded area of Revelo, Kentucky, about a 180-mile drive northeast of Nashville, the McCreary Journal reported.
Cross was last heard from after he was dropped off in Whitley, Kentucky, on May 18, 2018, WVLT reported.
Cross talked on the phone with a family member around midnight and said he was walking in the woods, WATE reported.
“The call was disconnected and no one has heard or seen from him since,” deputies said, according to WATE.
Cross’ sister, Ashley Cross, told WBIR she “never went three days” without speaking to him.
“R.I.P my sweet brother,” Ashley Cross said in a March 22 Facebook post. “God I hate this with every ounce of my soul. Words can not describe this pain.”
More than 600,000 people are reported missing in the U.S. each year, according to the National Institute of Justice. There are currently 944 reported missing people in Tennessee, according to 2025 data by the World Population Review.
