Hiker, 66, found dead on Appalachian Trail nearly two years after she vanished took a wrong turn before dying of exposure and lack of food and water

• e-mail

A 66-year-old hiker who was found dead two years after she went missing on the Appalachian Trail took a wrong turn before dying of exposure and a lack of food, her autopsy has revealed.

Geraldine Largay from Brentwood, Tennessee, vanished on the mountainous path in Maine on July 23, 2013, before she was scheduled to meet up with her husband and pick up supplies.

Her skeletal remains were discovered by the Maine Warden Service on October 16 on property owned by the U.S. Navy in Redington, three miles away from where she was last seen.

The state has since confirmed her identity and concluded that her death was an accident.

Geraldine Largay from Brentwood, Tennessee, vanished on the mountainous path in Maine on July 23, 2013, before she was scheduled to meet up with her husband and pick up supplies. State officials have confirmed she died of exposure after taking a wrong turn 

Her skeletal remains were discovered by the Maine Warden Service on October 16 on property owned by the U.S. Navy in Redington, three miles away from where she was last seen 

Cpl. John MacDonald of the Maine Warden Service told the Portland Press Herald in a statement: 'These findings now bring closure to one of Maine’s most unique and challenging search and rescue incidents.'

He added: 'Information found on the cellphone concluded that Gerry reached Orbeton Stream and the discontinued railroad bed crossing in the late morning of July 22, 2013. 

'Shortly after reaching that intersection, she continued north on the Appalachian Trail and at some point left the trail and became lost.

'After examination of the remains and working in conjunction with information from investigators on the case, the chief medical examiner determined this was an accidental death due to lack of food and water and environmental exposure.'

The Brentwood woman was last seen leaving Redington Township for an eight-mile hike in Maine

Largay’s family also issued a statement saying: 'After all of the communication and information from everyone involved including the Medical Examiner’s Office, Navy, and the Maine Attorney General’s Office, these findings are conclusive in that no foul play was involved and that Gerry simply made a wrong turn shortly after crossing Orbeton Stream.

'We wish to thank all of those who gave their time and prayers while searching for our wife, sister, mother, and grandmother. 

'We especially would like to thank the entire Maine Warden Service for their dedication to this case. 

'It became apparent from day one that this was personal to them and they would not rest until Gerry was found

'Now that we know her death was an accident, we again ask all media for the respect of our privacy as we continue our grieving process with this new chapter of closure.' 

The Brentwood woman was last seen leaving Redington Township for an eight-mile hike. 

She was set to meet her husband George the next day but never showed. 

She started the hike in April 2013 in West Virginia, and George had been meeting her at intervals along the way to provide her with supplies.

Largay's planned final destination was Baxter State Park, investigators said. She went by the trail name of 'Inchworm'. 

The property where Largay's body was recovered is part of a U.S. Navy's survival skills training facility. 

The Navy uses the area for its Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape program. Adam described it as a dense, wooded area not easily accessed. 

Searchers had canvassed similar areas with dogs and rescue teams over two years with fading hopes that Largay was still alive.

The warden service said in a statement last month that the search for Largay was 'one of Maine's most unique and challenging search and rescue efforts'.

The search area covered around 23 miles.  

Diagram: This map indicates Largay's final location in July 2013