The search for a 77-year-old man who was reported missing Thursday night ended when the man’s body was found in a wooded area in Hillsdale early this morning.
Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison Jr. reported that around 9:15 p.m. Thursday, Sheriff’s Patrols received a report that Roger W. Moody of Snyder Pond Road in the town of Copake was missing. The report was made by his son, who resides in New York City, when he was contacted by his father’s friends and told that his father had not attended a dinner party the night before at a home in Hillsdale.
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After receiving the report, Sheriff’s Patrols determined that Moody and his vehicle were not at his residence in Copake. A missing person investigation began which included going to nearby residences, interviewing friends and associates and entering Moody’s personal information and the description of his vehicle into the statewide law enforcement network as a possible missing person.
At approximately midnight, information was received that vehicle lights had been seen the night of the dinner party at a part-time residence in the same area in Hillsdale that was not occupied the evening of the party.
Sheriff’s Patrols went to the residence and located Moody’s vehicle, which had driven off the driveway and appeared to be been stuck. Moody was not with his vehicle. Deputy Sheriff’s, including Deputy Heath Benansky and his K9 partner Apollo, began searching the wooded area around the residence and found Moody’s body at about 2:03 a.m.
Along with Deputy Sheriffs Bernard Roberts, Thomas Bagnall, Kelly Briscoe and Benansky with Apollo, Capt. David Bartlett, Investigator Anthony Brahm and Coroner Roberta Davis also responded to the scene.
At this time, Moody’s death does not appear to be suspicious, authorities stated. A press release issued by the Sheriff’s Office stated, “Investigators feel that Mr. Moody may have driven to the wrong residence when going to the dinner party and became stuck in the driveway. He then exited his vehicle and became disoriented when walking in the nearby wooded area. Not wearing a jacket or boots, it appears that Mr. Woody experienced a medical problem.”
The cause of Moody’s death will be determined after review by Davis and Forensic Pathologist Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard.
