Tennessee woman missing since Hurricane Helene identified

The remains of Nancy Tucker, the last person reported missing in Washington County following Hurricane Helene, have been identified nearly two years after the storm. Debris removal specialists discovered the remains on a Saturday in the Jackson Island area of eastern Tennessee.

Tucker, 76, disappeared on September 27, 2024, when flooding from the Nolichucky River swept away her home in rural Washington County. While her husband, Jimmy Tucker, was recovered shortly after the disaster, Nancy remained unaccounted for. The identification was confirmed by the medical examiner at the William Jenkins Forensics Center at East Tennessee State University.

The search for Tucker faced significant challenges, including navigating 40-foot-high debris piles containing trees, rocks, vehicles, and propane tanks. Because the search area in the Cherokee National Forest was federal land containing potential Native American burial sites, responders faced bureaucratic hurdles regarding the use of heavy machinery. This discovery officially closes the final missing-person case in Washington County related to the hurricane.