A search effort for a Berkeley Springs man that was suspended after dark on Friday night came to end when neighbors found the man’s body on Cacapon Mountain late Friday night.
According to Morgan County Sheriff K.C. Bohrer, police began searching for Carl Hillsman, 57, around 4 p.m. on Friday, June 28 after receiving a report that he had been missing from his home on Quaint Acres Lane for several hours.
Sheriff Bohrer, Chief John Walter, Lt. Seth Place, Cpl. Scott Lemon, Deputies Luke Shambaugh and Jeremy Burkholder responded to the area west of Berkeley Springs and set up a search command post.
Local and area K-9 search teams assisted in looking for Hillsman. Several residents of the area also helped in the search, the sheriff said.
Sheriff Bohrer also requested a helicopter from the Maryland State Police and said County Administrator Stefanie Allemong and a Frederick County, Va. investigator conducted drone searches of rocky areas on the mountain.
Search efforts were suspended at dark, and further searches were being organized when neighbors reported to 911 that they had found Hillsman’s body.
Sheriff Bohrer said it appeared that Hillsman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Medical Examiner Rodney Jenkins responded to the scene and the Frederick County, Va. Sheriff’s Department’s Search and Rescue Team were able to recover Hillsman’s body and transport it to the nearest road with assistance from Chief Walter, Lt. Place, and Morgan County Deputy Reserves.
Investigation is ongoing, but Bohrer said Monday that there isn’t evidence pointing toward foul play in the death.
