Ritchard Temple, 52, an eventer and cross-country course designer, was reported missing after setting out on a hike along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath. His last known communication was on July 25, 2015, near Town Creek, Maryland. Some of his belongings were recovered on the riverbank near Town Creek in early August, which prompted a search by National Park Service rangers using helicopters, K-9 teams, and ground units, but no conclusive evidence of his whereabouts was found.

Temple had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis the previous fall and had spent the months before the hike visiting family. He returned to the hiking area he favored shortly after July 4, 2015, but did not leave specific plans for the trip; his family believed he would eventually return to Tennessee. His brother Randy said the effort shifted from a rescue to a recovery operation and that authorities were aware of the situation though not conducting an active search.

Temple was well known in the eventing community as a sponsor, event organizer, course designer, and a founding member and former co-owner of Broadstone Equine Insurance Agency; he also helped organize and design courses for the American Eventing Championships. He was described as 6 feet tall, about 200 pounds, with graying blond hair, glasses, a limp, and limited use of his right arm.

If anyone saw Ritchard on or near the C&O Canal towpath around late July 2015 or has information about his movements, please come forward.