Body of Missing Banks County Man Found in North Carolina

HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities in North Carolina say they have discovered a body believed to be that of a missing man from Banks County, Georgia, bringing a tragic end to a search that spanned more than two weeks.

The body, thought to be 26-year-old Conner Budd, was found Tuesday afternoon in the Newfound area off Interstate 40 in Haywood County, according to a report from the Saluda Standard Sentinel.

Budd had been reported missing earlier this month, sparking a multi-agency search effort. His vehicle was located in a church parking lot outside Canton, North Carolina, prompting teams to comb the surrounding area with the help of K9 units and four-wheelers.

The discovery has left communities in both North Georgia and Western North Carolina shaken. Family, friends, and volunteers had shared appeals and organized efforts to help locate Budd before Tuesday’s development.

The North Carolina medical examiner’s office will conduct formal identification and determine the cause of death. Investigators say the case remains active as they work to confirm the circumstances surrounding the discovery.