The remains of a man found in a remote part of the desert Wednesday are undergoing an autopsy and dental comparison to see if the body is that of Jeff Hendrick, a Churchill County resident who was last seen in early July.
The Churchill County Sheriff’s Office received information about a suspicious vehicle parked in a fairly remote and secluded part of the desert. Further identification of the vehicle confirmed it belonged to Hendrick. According to Capt. Richard Hickox in a press release, the CCSO had also listed Hendricks as a missing endangered person because of a long term medical issue requiring daily doses of medicine. The CCSO believed Hendrick was not in possession of his medication.
Hickox said a search of the immediate area surrounding the car was conducted and a possible trail leading away from the car was identified. Because of limited light and caused by time of day, he said the terrain and the trail were difficult to follow.
Deputies secured and marked the area until better conditions existed to continue the search.
Hickox said CCSO deputies and Churchill County Search and Rescue returned to the area Thursday morning. The body of a white male adult wearing shorts, a T-shirt and old athletic shoes was located southeast of the car.