Body of missing Caldwell County man found in woods

CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — The body of a missing Caldwell County man was found in a wooded area near his home Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Volunteers and first responders searched for Jimmy Spears, 84, for two days.

There were no signs of foul play.

Jimmy "RC" Spears, 84, was last heard from Sunday night and 19 agencies have been searching for the missing Caldwell County man. 

A Highway Patrol helicopter with infrared technology was dispatched in the search for Spears, who lived on Rays Place in Lenoir.

"Right now, the challenges are the heat and humidity,” Caldwell County Emergency Services Chief Dino DiBernardi said earlier Tuesday. “Having difficulty maintaining crews in the field."

Rescuers said Spears suffered from dementia, and with the high temperatures and high humidity, they were doing everything they could to find him as quickly as possible.

They said the rugged terrain near Spears’ home made their search efforts more difficult.

Spears was last heard from at his home at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

"I just feel terrible for the family,” friend Michelle Buckner said Tuesday. “I pray they find him and find him safe."

There were 19 agencies from surrounding counties involved in the search for Spears.

Officials said Oak Hill community residents should not be alarmed if they saw searchers in the woods. They were asking for community members to check around their homes as well.

"To me, just the thought I can't do much, but I'll do everything I can do to bring him home," volunteer Skip Moser said.

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