Emergency crews in Hamden, Connecticut, responded late on Monday morning, April 6, 2026, after receiving a call at 11:45 a.m. reporting a hiker who had fallen from an unmarked trail inside Sleeping Giant State Park. The victim was identified as 23‑year‑old William Cooper Gatch, a Georgia resident who had been visiting the park when the fall occurred.
When first responders reached the wooded area where the fall was reported, they found Gatch with severe injuries. Despite rapid efforts by DEEP Environmental Conservation Police, Hamden Fire Department, and EMS personnel, he was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officials confirmed that the fall happened along an unmarked trail, an area not maintained for regular hiking.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection stated that the preliminary investigation indicated the fall was accidental. Gatch had been hiking when he slipped from the unmarked trail and fell into a wooded section of the park. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was called to determine the official cause and manner of death.
Gatch was a University of Georgia senior, nearing completion of his degree in Agricultural Education. He was hiking with his sister at the time of the incident, according to obituary information later released. The two had been enjoying the park’s natural scenery before the unexpected fall occurred.
Family and friends described William as a compassionate young man with a deep love for the outdoors. He grew up in Statesboro, Georgia, and graduated from Southeast Bulloch High School in 2021. He was known for his dedication to education and his desire to become a teacher, a goal he was close to achieving before the tragedy.
DEEP officials, along with the State Attorney’s Office and the Hamden Police Department, continue to investigate the incident. Authorities have emphasized that there is no indication of foul play. The park remains open, but officials urge hikers to stay on marked trails and exercise caution in areas with steep or unstable terrain.