INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Relatives and friends led a search for a 67-year-old man missing for five days and ultimately found his body in a ditch, sheriff’s officials said. Kevin P. Markey’s death was not considered suspicious, and deputies did not suspect foul play, said Sgt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The family found Markey’s body about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the 2500 block of 12th Street, east of 27th Avenue and Shady Oaks Park, Jaworski said. The body was taken to the medical examiner’s office.
The incident was not related to another death investigation that also took place on Wednesday in Indian River County.
Family members said they last saw Markey on Saturday. Deputies found Markey’s crashed, abandoned vehicle on Sunday near 12th Street and 20th Avenue in Vero Beach, more than 3 miles north of his residence on 13th Street Southwest in south county.
On Monday, Markey’s family reported him missing, sheriff’s officials said. Sheriff’s officials posted a missing persons flyer of Markey, who they said possibly suffers from a mental health disorder, and asked the public for help to locate him.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. Anyone with information on Markey’s death should contact sheriff’s Det. Chris Scribner at 772-978-6240 or cscribner@ircsheriff.org.
Deputies continue to investigate the death.