Southern Illinois man missing two days found dead near his home
After two days of searching, authorities in Randolph County found a man who had been reported missing since Sunday evening dead near his home.
A family member requested a welfare check for Curtis Sheeler, 65, who lived on Rosewood Lane, about 20 miles southeast of Red Bud, a Randolph County Sheriff’s Department press release said.
“An initial search of his home and the surrounding area was unsuccessful,” the release stated. “Authorities spent the evening hours checking the homes of friends in the area.”
On Monday, a larger team that included the Sparta Fire Department and a K9 team, conducted a “more thorough search” of Sheeler’s property the release said. This search also yielded no results.
The search effort opened county-wide on Tuesday, with first responders from Red Bud, Ellis Grove, Prairie du Rocher, and Baldwin as well as a team from Franklin County and one from Med Star Ambulance, the release stated.
Sheeler’s body was found on a property adjacent to his own. The cause of death was still unknown as of Wednesday afternoon.
“The Randolph County Sheriff’s Department and Coroner’s Office would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the first responders in assisting us,” the release said. “We would also like to extend our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Curtis Sheeler.”
