This Snowboard Instructor Vanished From Grand Teton National Park In 2021, And A False Sighting Report Submitted To Authorities Wasted Valuable Time In The Search For Him
In 2021, Cian McLaughlin was 27-years-old and living in Jackson, Wyoming. He was originally from Dublin, Ireland, but had dual citizenship and worked as a snowboard instructor.
He adored the great outdoors and was a trained musician, and his loved ones knew him as a friendly and easy-going young man.
Yet, on June 8, 2021, he disappeared from Grand Teton National Park.
The morning he vanished, Cian was reportedly in good spirits. He had texted some of his friends and tried to FaceTime with his mother, who was in Ireland. Then, he was last seen while in Grand Teton Nation Park.
He was potentially spotted a few times on a trail system leading toward Garnet Canyon, Delta Lake, and Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes.
Cian was supposed to work two days later, on June 10, but he never showed up for his shift in Jackson Hole. He was ultimately reported missing on the night of June 12.
Once an investigation was launched, a review of security footage showed Cian going into Grand Teton National Park at 2:15 p.m. on June 8 through the Moose Entrance station.
The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center learned Cian had gone missing on June 13 at 7:00 a.m. Not long afterward, his car was found parked at the Lupine Meadows Trailhead.
Investigators were able to trace his phone, discovering it last pinged on Teton Park Road at about 3:30 p.m. on June 8.
kankankavee – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Authorities searched Garnet Canyon with the help of search and rescue dog teams as well as helicopters. Tragically, no signs of his whereabouts were uncovered.
On June 14, 2021, it seemed like there was a possible break in the case. A local woman named Heather Mycoskie spoke to authorities and claimed to have seen Cian on June 8 at 2:30 p.m., when he was hiking approximately a half mile away from the trailhead.
In a statement, National Park Service officials said, “The individual reported McLaughlin was headed south towards Taggart Lake and had a conversation with McLaughlin where he described where he worked, that he’s from Ireland, and currently living in Jackson.”
However, after authorities executed searches close to Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake, no evidence was discovered.
Additional investigation into this supposed spotting revealed Heather had never seen anyone matching Cian’s description the day he disappeared. Witnesses also reportedly told authorities that she had fabricated the sighting to make sure search efforts for Cian continued.
“As a direct result of Mycoskie’s false report, approximately 532 hours were spent conducting searches, managing search efforts, conducting follow-up investigations, and completing associated reports. This wasted valuable time could have been focused on searching areas of higher probability and cost the Federal Government approximately $17,600,” the National Park Service said in a news release.
Heather was ultimately ordered to pay $17,600 in restitution and was banned from Grand Teton National Park for five years.
As for Cian, the exact circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear, and his case is unsolved. Authorities have found no further information and continue asking for community members’ help.
Cian was six feet tall, weighed 180 pounds, and had brown hair and brown eyes. He had a tattoo of a bottle on his upper right arm and was last seen wearing shorts, a white T-shirt, a red Apple Watch, a bucket hat, and wire-rimmed round sunglasses.
If you have any information related to his case, you are urged to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch at (888) 653-0009.
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