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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BFMG) – The family of Daniel Highhouse, a 40-year-old South Carolina man who vanished last week after working a shift in North Carolina, has confirmed his tragic death in a heartfelt post on Facebook. The announcement comes after days of uncertainty, shifting jurisdiction, and an ongoing effort by loved ones to locate him.
Highhouse was last seen around 1:30 p.m. on May 20 at a CVS Pharmacy on Hendersonville Road in Asheville, North Carolina. His disappearance triggered a multi-agency investigation after his vehicle was discovered abandoned early Thursday morning near the Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve, just off Oak Grove Road. His phone had last pinged in that area.
Despite the discovery of his car, there were no immediate signs of Highhouse. In the days following his disappearance, law enforcement temporarily suspended search efforts over Memorial Day weekend, prompting his family to take matters into their own hands. They hired a private investigator and launched a GoFundMe campaign to continue search efforts independently.
As the search unfolded, it was further complicated by confusion surrounding which agency was leading the case. Initially, Spartanburg County authorities were believed to be in charge before the case was closed there and reopened in Asheville. Later, the Asheville Police Department said the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office had taken the lead—only to have Greenville officials clarify that Asheville remained the primary investigating agency, with their office assisting.
During the search, family members expressed concern that some rugged areas, such as those around Brenda Falls—a favorite hiking spot of locals—remained too dangerous to reach on foot. “We do have a feeling Dan may have climbed Brenda Falls,” a family member wrote on Monday. “He loved waterfalls & we would hike to them together often.”
For now, loved ones are asking for privacy and continued prayers as they grieve and search for clarity after the tragic loss of a man loved and cherished by so many.
