SMOKEMONT – A man who was found dead inside a historic church in Great Smoky Mountains National Park was stabbed 19 times, according to a medical examiner's report.
The body of Tyler Britton Gaddis, 25, of Whittier, was found inside Smokemont Baptist Church on March 29. The church, also known as Luftee Baptist Church, is off U.S. 441 north of Cherokee.
No arrests have been made in the case. The FBI is leading the investigation because the homicide happened in the national park.
FBI spokeswoman Shelley Lynch said the investigation is "progressing" but noted no additional information would be released.
According to a preliminary investigative report by Swain County medical examiner Emmitt Wiggins, who examined the body at the church, the apparent cause of death was "multiple stab wounds" and "internal hemorrhage."
Gaddis, wearing camouflage pants and jacket, was found lying face up on the floor inside the church, according to the report. He had been stabbed or slashed 19 times, including four times in the chest, once in the left side, once in the neck, twice in the back, 10 times on the right hand and forearm and once on the left hand, according to the report.
Wiggins noted "moderate amounts of blood on the floor surrounding the body. The decedent's jacket and shirt presented with copious amounts of blood and what appeared to be multiple stab/laceration type penetrations in the fabric."
Wiggins estimated the time of death at 3:16 a.m. on March 29.
The report indicates Gaddis was able to call 911 after he was stabbed, the call received at a Cherokee communications center at 2:50 a.m.
"Caller stated that he is inside the building and that he has been stabbed and bleeding all over the place," according to the report.
Gaddis' body was sent for autopsy to an N.C. medical examiner's office in Winston-Salem. A final autopsy report is not available yet.
According to Gaddis' obituary at Crisp Funeral Home in Bryson City, he was a native of Jackson County and is survived by a daughter, his parents a number of other family members.
