5 key details about Jeff Gebhardt’s murder

The tragic death of Jeff Gebhardt on September 22, 2012, remains a case filled with questions and complexities. The 35-year-old experienced hunter went missing while on a deer hunting trip at the Clarks Hill Wildlife Management Area in Blairsville, Georgia.

The following day, search teams discovered his body in a clearing, with multiple stab wounds and other signs of violence. The case was initially treated as a homicide but later concluded as a suicide. Accident, Suicide, or Murder by Investigation Discovery unravels this puzzling case, highlighting the events that led to Jeff's untimely death and the investigation that followed. The episode is set to air on December 21 on ID.

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Five key details about Jeff Gebhardt's death.

1) Jeff Gebhardt's background and lifestyle

Jeff Gebhardt was a practicing Catholic who loved the outdoors. He resided in Blairsville, Georgia, and was a butcher at Chambers Slaughter House. An active man, he had spent many days camping and hunting in the woods while running.

Friends and family believed Jeff to be an expert at wild country, so it was unexpected news when he failed to return on a deer hunting trip - immediately concerning his safety in the first place.

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2) The Disappearance

Jeff Gebhardt vanished during an early-season deer hunt on the 22nd of September 2012. Law enforcement immediately launched a mass search and rescue operation that featured local police, volunteers as well as helicopters fitted with GPS as well as a heat-sensing system.

On September 23, search teams discovered Jeff's body in a clearing within the Clarks Hill Wildlife Management Area. He was lying in a pool of blood, with visible bruises and stab wounds. The community was shocked, and the authorities suspected foul play at first.

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3) The evidence found at the scene

When Jeff's body was discovered, authorities found many crucial pieces of evidence. Two hunting rifles were discovered near the body, in addition to a knife suspected to have been the one used for his murder.

Reports later indicated that Jeff had been stabbed at least 17 times. This fact fueled the early notion that he had been attacked. However, this isolated location made the investigations even more complicated because apparently, there were no apparent witnesses or clear leads on the suspect.

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4) Homicide to suicide shift

The case took a turn when investigators started to look for evidence of suicide. There were also reports that Jeff had been facing depression before his death.

The Georgia State Medical Examiner reviewed all evidence and concluded in November 2012 that Jeff’s injuries were self-inflicted. This finding was presented to a grand jury, which ruled his death a suicide in August 2013. The ruling contradicted the initial homicide theory and left many unanswered questions.

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5) Disputes and controversy over the ruling

Jeff Gebhard's family and friends were skeptical of the official conclusion that he committed suicide. They said it would be impossible for him to commit suicide in such a violent manner, especially when he knew so much about survival and hunting.

Crime scene (Representative Photo by cottonbro studio/pexels )

Loved ones noted that the act of stabbing oneself 17 times was highly unusual for suicide. Despite these objections, the case was closed and the homicide investigation was not continued further. The ruling continues to be a subject of argument among those who knew him.

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Jeff Gebhardt's death remains a mystery, as the official ruling of suicide has created a division between his family and community. Still a Mystery, by Investigation Discovery, revisits the case, presenting evidence and findings from the investigation.

While the official record concludes that Jeff died by suicide, the circumstances of his death remain puzzling. The lack of witnesses and conflicting evidence keep this tragic case alive in public memory.