Pensioner not seen for months ‘is found lying dead in a hedge yards from his front door’
Passerby spots body near home of missing man who police have been carrying out huge search for
A BODY was found in a hedge just yards from the home of a man who was reported missing more than TWO MONTHS ago.
It was spotted by a passerby despite police spending weeks searching for missing pensioner David Horsford.
Cops have said they believe the body to be Mr Horsford's and the death is not being treated as suspicious.
The retired electrician, who has been married 44 years, was reported missing on April 16.
Police and forensics officers cordoned off Samson Road in Poole, Dorset, on Monday night after the tragic find.
Formal identification is yet to take place but Mr Horsford's family have been informed.
After he went missing David's wife Marguerite said: “David had been suffering from an extreme lack of sleep when he left home that day and was not in the right frame of mind.
“I am urging everyone to share this appeal.
"There might be someone who has been away on holiday and has not seen our messages and might be able to shed some light on where David might be.
“I would like to thank all our friends and family and the police and volunteers for all their help over the last two weeks. Your support has been amazing.
“If David sees this message, I would like to say – I am doing really well and I just want to get you home so we can go on that train trip I owe you.”
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Carol Brown, who has lived in the road with her husband Jim for 16 years, said: “It is awful, but I am glad he has been found.
“I can’t understand how he wasn’t found before. I think the police had search dogs in the factory behind.
“They have been looking for him everywhere.”
“I knew there was something going on, but I didn’t even think it could be this.
“He was a very quiet man but he always used to wave. I am glad he has been found for his wife’s sake.”
Floral tributes were left near his house yesterday afternoon.
Another neighbour, Iris Kernsley, said the community had been keeping watch for sightings after seeing missing posters around the area.
She said: “What a shock, his photo was up everywhere, even in the pub.
“We were all keeping an eye out for him.
“I saw the police there but it didn’t enter my mind that a person might have died. I think we are all shocked.
“It is very sad. His family must be devastated.”
After the tragic discovery, Dorset Police said in a statement: "At 6.39pm today, Monday 20 June 2016, the body of a man was discovered in area of hedgerow in Samson Road in Poole.
"While formal identification is yet to take place, the body is believed to be that of Mr Horsford.
"His family have been informed about this very sad discovery.
"Mr Horsford, 67, was reported missing from his home on Saturday 16 April 2016.
"His death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed.
"A small cordon was put in place while officers investigated the incident on behalf of the coroner.
"The cordon has now been lifted."