Hiker from Mt. Vernon found dead on trail in Rome

ROME — A missing Mt. Vernon hiker was found dead along a hiking trail Thursday night, according to a news release Friday from Cpl. John MacDonald, spokesman for the Maine Warden Service.

Brian Peters, 57, was last seen at about 1 p.m. when he left a parking area to snowshoe to the summit of Round Top Mountain.

Members of the Rome Fire Department located him just after 9 p.m. while conducting a ground search with game wardens. Searchers had been looking along trails off Watson Pond Road.

Although it appears the cause of death may be a medical event, the medical examiner will be evaluating the incident, according to MacDonald.

Maine State Police and Belgrade Rescue assisted at the scene.