Missing Man's Body Found in Vernon Reservoir

Vernon police don't suspect foul play in the death of a man whose body was found in a reservoir in town on Wednesday. 

James Doer, 59, went missing around 3 p.m in Vernon on Tuesday, police said. Police issued a Silver Alert and began searching for him right away because he has a known history of mental health issues. 

Officers discovered his body in the shallow water of Risley Reservoir on Lake Street in Vernon on the morning of New Year's Eve during an extensive search. Police had found a car they believed to be his at the reservoir earlier Wednesday morning.

No foul play is suspected, but police aren't ruling any possibilities out.

State police K9 units searched the deep woods surrounding the water and then focused the search on the water when searchers found some clothing near the shore. A state police diver went into the water and found Doer's body.

Dive teams and boats called to respond and then called off at about 8 a.m. when his body was found.

"We’ve stopped the search and we continue to investigate, at this time we don’t suspect foul play although we have not had a ruling made yet as to how he died," Lt. William Meier, of the Vernon police, said.

The family has been notified and were at the reservoir during the search for most of the morning.

The office of the chief medical examiner will do an autopsy on the body.

The cause of death has not been determined at this time. Detectives continue to investigate.

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