A former Skaneateles couple hiked on five continents, but found trouble on trails in their own community.
Transylvania County Sheriff's deputies discovered Irene Bryant's body last week and North Carolina authorities are still looking for John Bryant, 79, retired Skaneateles town attorney.
The Bryants went missing after they went for a hike Oct. 20 in Pisgah National Forest. Their son later reported them missing.
Irene Bryant, 84, was beaten to death in the mountains of North Carolina, authorities say.
John Bryant, known as Jack, served as town attorney for nearly 25 years until he retired and they moved to Hendersonville, N.C.
“No one can believe it,” former Skaneateles town Supervisor Charlie Major said. “They hiked around the world and this happened in their backyard.”
They walked from one shore of Scotland to the other, as well as trekking down the Appalachian Trail. Jack Bryant brought a bottle of champagne for the last two-mile stretch, Major said.
Major shared his tenure with Bryant. Both men were attorneys, and Major appointed Bryant as town attorney in 1966 and their tenure ended in 1991.
News spread around town after a former client returned from North Carolina and told of the tragedy. Major has been checking Web sites and following the story for the past several days.
The Transylvania sheriff's office identified some of the drivers of the five vehicles parked on a road near the couple's car in the photo. Irene Bryant's body was found 30 yards away from their SUV parked on Yellow Gap Road, off of U.S. Highway 276.
Deputies are continuing to look for potential witnesses.
The office has suspended the search and deputies are investigating leads that come in through the tip line, Sheriff David Mahoney said.
The couple's bank card was later used to withdraw $300 in Ducktown, Tenn. Video from a security camera near the ATM shows the card user wearing a hooded rain jacket, but does not offer a clear view of the person's face.
Mahoney isn't willing to vocalize any thoughts about what happened to Jack Bryant.
“Right now it's too early to say anything ... at this point anything would be a guess,” Mahoney said. “We're not ruling any possibility out.”
The couple's love of hiking showed in their gift of 5.5 acres of land to be added to the nature trail near Skaneateles Creek in 1992, but asked that it be named the Charlie Major Nature Trail.
“All they did is hike. People who saw them thought they were in their fifties,” Major said.
In fact, the mountainous landscape attracted them to North Carolina, Major said. Irene, a retired veterinarian, loved to walk with her husband and enjoyed the outdoors, Major said.
The largest issues Bryant handled as town attorney was the Roger Scott case, in which the town demolished a home after battling with the owner for years.
“They're an ideal couple. They're real nice people, always have the community interest at heart,” Major said.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
The Bryants went missing after they went for a hike Oct. 20 in Pisgah National Forest. Their son later reported them missing.
Irene Bryant, 84, was beaten to death in the mountains of North Carolina, authorities say.
John Bryant, known as Jack, served as town attorney for nearly 25 years until he retired and they moved to Hendersonville, N.C.
“No one can believe it,” former Skaneateles town Supervisor Charlie Major said. “They hiked around the world and this happened in their backyard.”
They walked from one shore of Scotland to the other, as well as trekking down the Appalachian Trail. Jack Bryant brought a bottle of champagne for the last two-mile stretch, Major said.
Major shared his tenure with Bryant. Both men were attorneys, and Major appointed Bryant as town attorney in 1966 and their tenure ended in 1991.
News spread around town after a former client returned from North Carolina and told of the tragedy. Major has been checking Web sites and following the story for the past several days.
The Transylvania sheriff's office identified some of the drivers of the five vehicles parked on a road near the couple's car in the photo. Irene Bryant's body was found 30 yards away from their SUV parked on Yellow Gap Road, off of U.S. Highway 276.
Deputies are continuing to look for potential witnesses.
The office has suspended the search and deputies are investigating leads that come in through the tip line, Sheriff David Mahoney said.
The couple's bank card was later used to withdraw $300 in Ducktown, Tenn. Video from a security camera near the ATM shows the card user wearing a hooded rain jacket, but does not offer a clear view of the person's face.
Mahoney isn't willing to vocalize any thoughts about what happened to Jack Bryant.
“Right now it's too early to say anything ... at this point anything would be a guess,” Mahoney said. “We're not ruling any possibility out.”
The couple's love of hiking showed in their gift of 5.5 acres of land to be added to the nature trail near Skaneateles Creek in 1992, but asked that it be named the Charlie Major Nature Trail.
“All they did is hike. People who saw them thought they were in their fifties,” Major said.
In fact, the mountainous landscape attracted them to North Carolina, Major said. Irene, a retired veterinarian, loved to walk with her husband and enjoyed the outdoors, Major said.
The largest issues Bryant handled as town attorney was the Roger Scott case, in which the town demolished a home after battling with the owner for years.
“They're an ideal couple. They're real nice people, always have the community interest at heart,” Major said.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
