Missing Florida man who wandered away at popular New England tourist destination found dead

Officials said search crews had located the body of William Davis after a difficult three-day operation involving helicopters, drones and dozens of ground personnel atop the popular New England summer tourist destination.

At some point, Davis made brief contact with a state park employee by cellphone. He reported being off-trail and described his surroundings but could not explain his location. His phone died during the call. Search teams were notified shortly after 6 p.m. and began looking for him that evening.

Crews initially focused on the western side of the summit. Fish and Game officers, park staff, and volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue used drones and ground teams to search the area into early Thursday morning.

Fog and wind slowed progress, and no sign of Davis was found, according to officials.

On Friday morning, search teams shifted their focus to the eastern and southern slopes of the mountain. Weather conditions had worsened. Rain, clouds, and high winds moved in. Temperatures hovered in the low 40s, and wind chill readings dropped to near freezing.

At around 11 a.m. On Friday, AVSAR volunteers found Davis's body about 400 feet off the Lion Head Trail. The location was between the Alpine Garden and Tuckerman Ravine Trails, both of which run through rocky and exposed terrain. Rescue officials said Davis appeared to have suffered a serious fall.

A Black Hawk helicopter crew from the New Hampshire Army National Guard was conducting a training mission nearby and was able to assist with the recovery efforts during a short break in the weather, officials said.

An autopsy is pending at the state medical examiner. Authorities have not determined how Davis ended up in the remote area where he was found.