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Last updated 10:37 pm CT February 08, 2010.
UPDATE Missing Cobden Man Found Dead
UNION COUNTY-- Union County officials say they have found the body of an elderly man missing since Tuesday. 92-year-old Ray Baggett was found in a field less than a mile away from where he was last seen Tuesday morning. The body was discovered near Bethel Church Road, just east of Cobden.
While Mr. Baggett was hard of hearing, legally blind and had alzheimers, the more than 200 volunteers searching early Wednesday morning were hopeful he would be found alive. But only hours later, the mood was much different, after word spread that the search was over.
In the light of day, Union County officials say, an I-DOT helicopter pilot spotted the body of 92-year-old Ray Baggett.
"And there were ground rescue people on the ground that immediately went to that area."
Captain Scott Harvel with the Union County Sheriff Department says Baggett was found lying in the middle of a nearby field.
"It appeared that Mr. Baggett had actually laid down there to rest," Harvel explains. "He had folded his trousers up and placed them under his head. It looked like at some point he got tired and laid down there."
Harvel says its likely heat and exhaustion played a major role in his death. And, it appeared as though, Baggett had been in that spot for at least 12 hours.
"He curled up in the weeds and took his socks off and got cool. Huh."
Baggett's granddaughter, Regina Keller, says, while saddened by her grandfather's death, she's also overwhelmed by the effort to find him...
"I just thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the awesome manpower and support and when a community comes together, its amazing, its amazing."
And while disappointed with the outcome, volunteers say, they hope they helped in some way.
"We are always caring for the family, you know, as a searcher, and you're working for the family. And its always good to bring conclusion for the family," says Civil Air Patrolman, Rickey Oeth.
"My dad's about that same age," explains search volunteer John Lasley. "I'd sure appreciate somebody looking for him if he got in that trouble."
Regina, says he really enjoyed the outdoors and taking walks close to home. The Union County coroner says that its likely, during his walk on Tuesday, the harsh conditions led to exhaustion and/or a heat stroke.
By: Rachel Gartner
rgartner@wsiltv.com
UPDATE 6/24/9:30am
COBDEN - The search is over for a missing Cobden Man. Searchers on horseback discovered the body of 92 year old Ray Baggett about a mile north from him home in rural Union County.
Baggett was deceased, according to a family member. The nature of his death is unknown. A news conference was scheduled for later Wednesday morning.
Police say Baggett wandered away from his home around 6 AM Tuesday. Family members say Baggett suffered from Alzheimer's.
Baggett lived on Wing Hill Road, east of Cobden, near the Bethel Church. He would often walk from home to the church and back.
Now: 1265690429
