Body of Missing 76 Year Old Man Recovered from Lake Behind Plantation Home, Investigation Underway
PLANTATION, Fla. — A missing 76 year old Plantation man was found dead Thursday after an extensive search involving dive teams, K-9 units, and police investigators, authorities confirmed. The discovery was made in a lake behind the man’s home in the 7800 block of Northwest 11th Court, where emergency crews spent hours searching after he was reported missing.
Plantation Police have not released the man’s identity and say the investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death remains active.
Search Included Divers and Bloodhound K-9 Units
According to officials, Plantation Police and Plantation Fire Rescue launched a coordinated search after the elderly man was reported missing. The operation included specialized Bloodhound K-9 teams and dive crews searching the residential neighborhood and the lake located directly behind the victim’s home.
During the search, responders made an initial discovery that narrowed their focus when one of the man’s shoes was found floating in the water. Dive teams subsequently entered the lake and located the man’s body submerged beneath the surface.
Evidence Collected at Scene
Following the recovery, detectives remained at the residence and surrounding lake for several hours processing the scene. Investigators were seen collecting evidence in red evidence bags while the victim’s body was carefully removed from the shoreline on a stretcher. The area remained secured as crime scene investigators documented the location and gathered information that could help determine exactly what occurred.
Longtime Resident Remembered by Neighbors
Neighbors told Local 10 News the victim had lived in the neighborhood for decades and shared the home with a large extended family. Residents described the discovery as heartbreaking, noting that emergency personnel worked methodically throughout the search before ultimately recovering the man’s body from the lake behind the property.
Cause of Death Not Yet Released
Authorities have not said how long the man had been missing before the search began, nor have they released preliminary findings regarding the cause or manner of death. As is standard procedure in unattended deaths, the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to conduct an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.
Investigators have not indicated whether foul play is suspected, and no additional details have been released regarding the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Investigation Continues
Plantation Police continue to investigate the death and are working to establish the events that led to the 76 year old man being found in the lake behind his residence.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact the Plantation Police Department. Authorities have not announced any arrests or identified any suspects, and the case remains under active investigation pending the results of the medical examiner’s findings.
