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Chad Stroup, a 26-year-old Hempfield High School graduate, had gone to Michaux State Forest north of Gettysburg on Tuesday and failed to return.
According to police, Stroup left his home around 9 a.m. on Tuesday. When he did not return home by 9 that night, his family notified state police.
"Stroup was then entered as a missing person through the National Crime Information Computer and state police then initiated a search for him," Trooper Tom Pinkerton said in a prepared statement.
The search, which included troopers from the Gettysburg and Carlisle barracks, state police helicopters and local fire companies, along with search and rescue dogs, began around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.
His vehicle was located off of Birch Run Road in Menallen Township.
Stroup's body was found lying in a shallow creek in about a foot of water Wednesday around 3 p.m.
"There were no signs of foul play, nor were there any visible injuries," Pinkerton said "He was scouting for hunting spots and had visited the area four times in the last few weeks."
Stroup was pronounced dead at 4:30 p.m.
The Adams County coroner said a cause of death is pending an autopsy scheduled for Friday at Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Michaux State Forest covers more than 85,000 acres in Adams, Cumberland and Franklin counties.
lalexander@lnpnews.com
