Sheriff: Body found Monday in wooded area identified as Lucas Vance

Unicoi County Sheriff Mike Hensley has confirmed the body of a man found Monday afternoon in a wooded area off Little Mountain Road is that of missing business owner Lucas Vance.

Hensley confirmed Wednesday afternoon that forensic examiners notified him that the body had been positively identified as Vance. Private investigators first notified the office that they had located a body Monday afternoon around near a backpack containing items believed to have belonged to Vance.

Hensley says foul play is not suspected in Vance’s death and the body has been sent for an autopsy.