Search for missing man ends with body found

MARION -- Authorities in southern Illinois say the search for a missing 82-year-old man ended with the discovery of his body in a field near his Lake of Egypt home.

Officials in Williamson County say Wendell Hilliard had dementia and apparently wandered from his home, perhaps as early as Tuesday evening.

Family members reported him missing Wednesday morning, and his body was found by a passer-by on an all-terrain vehicle shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday about a half mile from Hilliard's home, where he lived alone.

Lake of Egypt Fire Protection District Chief Kirby Crites says some of Hilliard's relatives helped with the search and were grieved by the outcome but relieved that he'd been found.