Update: Kentucky State Police have issued an update on a missing person. Around 11am, Friday, May 24, 2019, the body of missing Pike County man Paris Smith was recovered. Smith’s body was found in the river in the area behind Big Lots in Coal run. Kentucky State Police report the investigation remains open.

Update: Kentucky State Police have issued an update on a missing person. The missing individual has been identified as 47-year-old Paris Smith of Joe’s Creek in Pikeville. Smith went missing around 10pm Wednesday, May 22, 2019, after being separated from a group of kayakers on the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. The area of the search began at the boat ramp behind the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Pikeville and continues north toward the Floyd County line. The search is continuing.

Original story: Officials are currently searching for a missing kayaker in Pike County. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Officer Robbie Spears said a kayaker went missing from a group sometime on the evening of Wednesday, May 23, 2019. The identity of the individual has not been released at this time. The individual’s kayak and cell phone were recovered. Teams are currently searching the area of the Levisa Fork River near Coal Run. We will update this story when more information becomes available.