By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
STARK CITY, Mo. — Preliminary autopsy results that could be released today should shed light on the cause of death of a Stark City veteran who went missing last week.
Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland said the body of Ernest Jensen, 62, was found at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday about a mile from his home.
“There does not appear to be foul play at this point,” the sheriff said Thursday.
An autopsy initially scheduled for Thursday afternoon was pushed back to early Thursday night. Copeland said he hoped to have preliminary results today.
Copeland said the autopsy would provide a cause and likely an approximate time of death. It is unknown, he said, how long Jensen had been at the location where he was found.
Jensen was last seen walking into the woods near his home on Vixen Road at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 3, Copeland said. Jensen reportedly suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, Copeland said.
The sheriff said Jensen had disappeared from his home before.
Authorities had searched the area around Jensen’s home, employing dogs, a helicopter and vehicles, Copeland said. Area fire departments also searched the area.
Officers on Wednesday were calling area homeless shelters and veterans hospitals.
Body found
Ernest Jensen’s body was spotted by a woman who had gone out to check on her horses amid Wednesday night’s storms. The woman found the body of the Vietnam War veteran beneath some brush.
