by Patricia A. Miller
The body of a Beach Haven West man missing for nearly a week has been found in a wooded area near his Jane Drive home, police said.
Police initially responded to the home Saturday, when Joseph L. Autry, 67 was first reported missing. Family members reported that Autry had not been seen since last Thursday, police said.
Police canvassed the neighborhood and interviewed residents, with no results. Autry was entered into the NCIC and a Trax message was issued.
Detectives from the Stafford Township Police Department conducted additional interviews with family members and neighbors, and obtained information that Mr. Autry may have been last seen in a wooded area near his residence.
A search was conducted in the area with help from the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department's K9 team.
The K9 team found Autry's body in the wooded area. An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death, police said.
Additional assistance was provided by the Stafford Township Fire Company, Ocean County Sheriff's Department Criminal Investigations Unit and the Ocean County Medical Examiner's Office. Detective Fenlon is the investigating officer.
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