Tennessee man died of meth overdose before being eaten by bear at national park

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A man whose body was discovered partially eaten by a bear in Great Smoky Mountains National Park last year died of a meth overdose before the bear ever got to him, according to an autopsy released on Monday.

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The remains of William Lee Hill Jr., 30, of Louisville, Tenn. were discovered in the national park in September when officials encountered a bear feeding on the body in an area off a trail.

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Without knowing the exact cause of death, park officials and wildlife professionals decided to euthanize the bear a few days later for "public safety reasons."

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But on Monday, the Knox County Regional Forensic Center revealed Hill died of "accidental methamphetamine intoxication,"

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Hill had a history of drug use, and his body was found near syringes and other drug paraphernalia

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The 30-year-old had gone to the park with his friend, Joshua David Morgan, to illegally remove ginseng from the park, but the pair became separated

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