Mystery as man’s body found on Appalachian Trail just miles from where Dog the Bounty Hunter looked for Brian Laundrie

A forensic artist created a sketch of the man, who is believed to be a hiker who was visiting Springer Mountain.

It was released to the public on Thursday in hopes that someone recognizes him and is able to provide his identity.

The GBI said the man was found wearing a small gray T-shirt, gray fleece long sleeve shirt, tan Wrangler brand cargo pants size 30x32, gray wool boot socks, and Keen brand hiking boots sized 10.5. 

He had a black, Thermal-FR brand fleece quarter-zip pullover, dark gray Champion brand quarter-zip fleece, black Uline skull cap with rechargeable light attachment, and a small black folding shovel.

The investigation was said to be ongoing as the GBI asked anyone with information to contact them.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at , or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Dog The Bounty Hunter, whose real name is Duane Lee Chapman, was on the Appalachian Trail last year searching for Brian Laundrie.

Dog joined police and other officials in their search for Laundrie, the ex-boyfriend of slain vlogger Gabby Petito.

Laundrie returned to his Florida home without Gabby after the two went on a cross-country trip together.

Friends of Gabby begged Laundrie to provide authorities with information on her whereabouts, but soon Laundrie himself went missing.

Laundrie's remains were officially identified by the FBI on October 21, 2021, after an extensive search at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park.

On November 23, 2021, Laundrie's cause of death was revealed as suicide by a gunshot wound to the head, his family lawyer said.

On September 19, 2021, authorities in Wyoming announced a body was found in the area where the search for Petito had been underway.

The Petito family lawyer later confirmed on September 21 that the body was identified as Gabby's.

The remains were discovered in Grant Teton National Park, where she had been camping with Laundrie when she disappeared.

Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed Gabby died by strangulation in a homicide.

He added that Gabby's predicted death was three to four weeks before her body was found.

The case made headlines again this week as Laundrie's parents moved to dismiss a lawsuit filed in Gabby's death.

Gabby's parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, are suing Laundrie's parents, claiming the boy's parents knew about Gabby's murder "on or about" August 28.