Michael Giovanni CocchiniGATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) -- Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have found human remains that may be a missing Nashville man.
In a news release on Tuesday, park officials said the remains have not yet been identified, but they were in an area where clothing and other items believed to have belonged to Michael Giovanni Cocchini were found late last week.
The 23-year-old was last seen by friends at a Sevierville Wal-Mart on March 18. He had been staying in Gatlinburg.
The remains were found on Monday and are being sent to the medical examiner for analysis and identification.
Another man went missing in the Smokies just days before Cocchini. Rangers suspended searches for Cocchini and 24-year-old Derek Leuking of Louisville on March 26 after no clues were found beyond their abandoned vehicles.
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