A human skull found in the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in St. Tammany Parish in 2017 has finally been identified. Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape says his office worked with a genetic genealogy company to identify a living niece in California who confirmed the skull as Gary Maggio of Slidell.
“He was a veteran, a Vietnam veteran, [who had] come over here in… 2015, he left California and was being treated by the V.A. for severe mental illness, unfortunately,” Tape explains.
Maggio had never been reported missing. Officials learned Maggio was an outdoorsman, so him being in the wildlife refuge isn’t immediately suspicious. However, Tape says Maggio was being treated for severe mental health issues and didn’t tell anyone he was going camping. Tape says they can’t rule out foul play or suicide, but, “It’s most likely just natural or accidental death. He may have had a heart attack when he was camping out, he could have drowned while he was trying to cross a swampy area… there’s all kinds of possibilities at this point.”
Maggio’s niece, who lives in California, told officials her uncle hadn’t been heard from since 2016, and Maggio’s skull was recovered in 2017. Maggio is believed to have been sixty-seven when he died. Tape says they’re glad to finally identify the skull and to bring Maggio’s family some answers after 7 years.
“So I don’t know, I think they must be pretty happy to finally have some closure,” he says. “It must be really terrible to not know. It’s heartbreaking.”
Anyone who knew Maggio or has information about his last days is asked to contact the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office.
