Hiker Falls To His Death in McDowell County

Over 60 emergency personnel responded at 11:45 a.m. Saturday, February 24 to Upper Catawba Falls in McDowell County to help recover the body of a man who fell to his death.  McDowell County Sheriff’s deputies have identified the victim as 37-year-old Jimmy Schmidt Jr., of Georgia. Deputies say he was part of a bachelor party group staying in Ashevlle that went hiking. Detectives determined that Schmidt went ahead of his friends, who were still taking pictures, and ended up at the Upper Falls. He was reportedly at the top of the falls and leaned over to get a better view, when he lost his footing and fell. He was pronounced dead at the bottom of the falls. This is the second fall in less than a year from Upper Catawba Falls. On June 24 of 2017,  22-year-old Charles Adam Muzic, of Nebo, died when he fell from the top of Upper Catawba Falls. The upper falls are 50 feet high.