The investigation continues after local authorities recovered the body of a Piedmont man in the Spring Garden Area Sunday evening, Aug. 15. Sheriff Larry Wilson says there appears to be no foul play involved at this time.

According to Wilson, a manhunt began after family members reported that James Bullock, 44, of 2650 County Road 11 in Piedmont, left his home and headed into a wooded area to search for deer trails and failed to return. Authorities received the call around 1 p.m. Sunday.

The Piedmont and Cherokee County Rescue Squads were called in to assist along with Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputies and several area volunteer fire departments. They found Bullock’s body around 6:30 p.m. in a wooded area off Cherokee County Road 174 where Cherokee County Coroner Don Rogers pronounced him dead on the scene.

Wilson said Bullock apparently died of natural causes. His body was sent to the Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy to determine the cause of death