LENOIR, NC (August 28, 2018) — Searchers found a missing Caldwell County man, 84- year-old Jimmy “RC” Spears of 1044 Rays Place, deceased in a wooded area on an adjoining property near his home this afternoon around 2 p.m.
Spears’ son had spoken to him 10:30 p.m. Sunday and discovered him missing Monday morning. The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office and Caldwell County Emergency Services worked together with searchers from 20 other agencies around the clock until they found Spears’ body this afternoon. Investigators say there are no signs of foul play related to the death.
Spears suffered from dementia and was found wearing a shirt, pajama bottoms and shoes.
Sheriff Alan Jones of Caldwell County and Dino Dibernardi, Director of Caldwell County Emergency Services would like to thank all of the 20 agencies that assisted in the search. They include in addition to the Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Services, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office and their drone operators, Sawmills Fire Department, Catawba Police Department, three units from the Little River Fire Department, two units from Blowing Rock Fire Department, four units from the Boone Fire Department, Kings Creek Fire Department, Hudson Police Department, Hudson Fire Department, Granite Falls Fire Department, three units from Watauga Fire and Rescue, the North Carolina Highway Patrol search helicopter and search dogs and handlers from the North Carolina Department of Corrections. Support Services was provided by the American Red Cross and NC CERT.