Women Banned From Grand Teton National Park and Fined For False Information
Disappearance
Friday 10th, June 2022
A woman has been banned for 5 years from Grand Teton National Park and fined for supplying false information in relation to missing Irishman Cian McLaughlin.
The woman, named as Heather Mycoskie, provided a false account of meeting Cian McLaughlin on the day of his disappearance and fabricated a conversation she said she had with him in which he said he was travelling to a specific part of Grand Teton National Park.
Mycoskie has been banned from the park for five years and has been ordered to pay a fine of $17,600 (€16,603) to the Department of Treasury.
Two weeks after Cian McLaughlin’s disappearance Mycoskie told investigators that she had seen him hiking south towards Taggart Lake.
As a direct result of Mycoskie’s false report, approximately 532 hours were spent conducting searches, managing search efforts, conducting follow up investigations, and completing associated reports.
A spokesperson for the National Park Service said a woman, "had knowingly provided false information and a false report in search for missing hiker Cian McLaughlin.", and that "This wasted valuable time that could have been focused on searching areas of higher probability.".
"Per deferred prosecution agreement, she is banned from Grand Teton for five years and ordered to pay restitution of $17,600".
An investigation on the 21st of June 2021 that Heather Mycoskie provided false information about seeing an individual matching McLaughlin's description.
Mycoskie reported that she had seen McLaughlin in the late afternoon/early evening of Tuesday, June 8, 2021, the day of his disappearance.
Mycoskie provided a very detailed description of McLaughlin and she told investigators that the missing man was hiking on the south side of Bradley-Taggart moraine in Grand Teton National Park, and that he was headed south towards Taggart Lake where he planned to jump off his favorite rock into the water.
"The subsequent investigation revealed Mycoskie never saw anyone matching McLaughlin’s description on June 8, 2021, in Grand Teton National Park,” Grand Teton said. “Additionally, witnesses reported Mycoskie fabricated the sighting to ensure search efforts continued. All other potential sightings of McLaughlin were on the trail system that leads towards Garnet Canyon, Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes, and Delta Lake."
"In September 2021, computer forensics revealed that McLaughlin had conducted several internet searches focused on Delta Lake just prior to his hike."
"As a direct result of Mycoskie’s false report, approximately 532 hours were spent conducting searches, managing search efforts, conducting follow up investigations, and completing associated reports. This wasted valuable time that could have been focused on searching areas of higher probability and it cost the Federal Government approximately $17,600."
The woman, named as Heather Mycoskie, provided a false account of meeting Cian McLaughlin on the day of his disappearance and fabricated a conversation she said she had with him in which he said he was travelling to a specific part of Grand Teton National Park.
Mycoskie has been banned from the park for five years and has been ordered to pay a fine of $17,600 (€16,603) to the Department of Treasury.
Two weeks after Cian McLaughlin’s disappearance Mycoskie told investigators that she had seen him hiking south towards Taggart Lake.
As a direct result of Mycoskie’s false report, approximately 532 hours were spent conducting searches, managing search efforts, conducting follow up investigations, and completing associated reports.
A spokesperson for the National Park Service said a woman, "had knowingly provided false information and a false report in search for missing hiker Cian McLaughlin.", and that "This wasted valuable time that could have been focused on searching areas of higher probability.".
"Per deferred prosecution agreement, she is banned from Grand Teton for five years and ordered to pay restitution of $17,600".
An investigation on the 21st of June 2021 that Heather Mycoskie provided false information about seeing an individual matching McLaughlin's description.
Mycoskie reported that she had seen McLaughlin in the late afternoon/early evening of Tuesday, June 8, 2021, the day of his disappearance.
Mycoskie provided a very detailed description of McLaughlin and she told investigators that the missing man was hiking on the south side of Bradley-Taggart moraine in Grand Teton National Park, and that he was headed south towards Taggart Lake where he planned to jump off his favorite rock into the water.
"The subsequent investigation revealed Mycoskie never saw anyone matching McLaughlin’s description on June 8, 2021, in Grand Teton National Park,” Grand Teton said. “Additionally, witnesses reported Mycoskie fabricated the sighting to ensure search efforts continued. All other potential sightings of McLaughlin were on the trail system that leads towards Garnet Canyon, Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes, and Delta Lake."
"In September 2021, computer forensics revealed that McLaughlin had conducted several internet searches focused on Delta Lake just prior to his hike."
"As a direct result of Mycoskie’s false report, approximately 532 hours were spent conducting searches, managing search efforts, conducting follow up investigations, and completing associated reports. This wasted valuable time that could have been focused on searching areas of higher probability and it cost the Federal Government approximately $17,600."
