ROCKINGHAM — Police on Monday verified that a body found Friday afternoon was that of a man who had been reported missing several days before.
Following a search, the body of 64-year-old Leonard Miller, of Rockingham, was found in a wooded area off of Exit 25 near The Berry Patch, just outside Ellerbe, according to Rockingham Police Chief Billy Kelly.
Kelly said detectives began working the case immediately after Miller was reported missing Tuesday morning.
However, he said this case was a little more difficult than most investigations because Miller didn’t have a digital footprint — social media, cellphone — that detectives are used to relying on to track someone.
Investigators found two cameras that showed a possible path of travel that it was assumed Miller had taken, Kelly said.
Other than that, the chief said detectives went door-to-door speaking with friends and businesses Miller was known to frequent to try and figure out where he may have gone.
According to a Facebook post on Tuesday, Miller was last seen around 11:35 Monday night.
The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation was also called in to assist with the case.
Kelly said Miller’s truck was found by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at The Berry Patch before he was reported missing, which is what led to a search of the area.
Miller’s name was officially held over the weekend so family members could be contacted.
