Monday, May 11, 2026 - A Catholic deacon was mauled to d£ath in a suspected bear attack after he left his father a touching voicemail as he embarked on the ill-fated hike to watch the sunset.
Anthony Pollio, 33, was found d£ad at Montana’s Glacier
National Park about two and a half miles into a hike along the Mt. Brown Trail
on May 6.
His body lay roughly 50 feet off the beaten path and
sustained injuries consistent with a bear attack, according to the park’s news
release. A formal autopsy hasn’t been completed yet.
Anthony’s family independently confirmed his gruesome demise
to outlets in the Florida native’s community.
Arthur Pollio, Anthony’s father, told the Sun
Sentinel that his “fearless” son left him a voicemail while he was on the
hike. He recounted how Anthony sounded out of breath while he offered a
play-by-play of his day, and ended with a “Love you.”
Pollio said Anthony had done this consistently throughout
his two-week road trip with his friend, who parted ways when they reached
Montana.
The grieving father explained that Anthony was an
experienced hunter who was likely caught off-guard by a particularly aggressive
bear.
When Anthony wasn’t clearing trails at parks across the
country, he could be found cruising around Florida or preaching at his local
Catholic church, Arthur said.
Anthony, a lifelong Floridian, graduated from the University
of Central Florida with a degree in hospitality.
Before his final excursion in Montana, Anthony hiked through
the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and the connected Grand Teton National Park,
Starved Rock State Park and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, his father
said.
“His life experiences in 33 years — some people don’t get to
do ’til they’re 90 or their whole life,” Arthur told the outlet.
The park is still investigating Anthony’s de@th.
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