UPDATE: Missing hiker Curtis Dustin Williams found in Pocket Wilderness

RHEA COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- According to Rhea County Investigator Rocky Potter, Curtis Dustin Williams’ body has been found on Saturday.

Information is limited at this time.

Officials will be holding a press conference later this evening.

RHEA COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- In Pikeville, the search for a North Carolina hiker approaches day seven. Agencies are expanding their search, recruiting volunteers and preventing the spread of misinformation.

About a week into the search for Curtis Dustin Williams, rescue squads are changing their direction and their approach.

Investigator Rocky Potter from the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department says agencies are looking for experienced volunteers to help them scour the vast and unforgiving terrain.

“Possibly more of like an open field search and rescue” says Potter. “We will take some local volunteers if they want to come up and help. It’s a more open search through this rugged territory.”

Volunteers are welcome to sign up at the ‘Friendship Baptist Church’ on Summer City road in Pikeville.

Curtis’ personal hiking experience has searchers confident that he could still be alive.

“There’s plenty of water out there. He’s an avid hiker. He knows what to bring. What to keep in his backpack” says Potter. “We don’t know really how many days he had planned on staying but he knows how to live off the land according to the people that I’ve talked with.”

Potter wants to debunk any misinformation circulating social media related to the rescue mission.

“The only piece of evidence here is that we have found a dog.”

That dog traveled with Curtis and was found last week.

“Everybody wants to remain optimistic. A lot of prayers that we can still find this man.”