The body of 79-year-old Edward Purcell, who was reported missing in January, was found this weekend in an Elizabeth backyard.
The circumstances surrounding the death of Purcell, who last lived on Cherry Street in Elizabeth, is unknown at this time but an autopsy determined that there was no foul play involved, said Lt. Daniel Geddes.
Police responded to the 800 block of Gebhardt Avenue to investigate a report of a suspicious person Saturday at approximately 12:55 a.m., according to police.
While there, uniformed personnel searching the backyard came across a deceased elderly man's body lying on the ground.
The body was hidden from sight, by garage behind the residence.
Officers immediately observed that the male was in advanced stages of decomposition and had clearly been there for some time.
The deceased, was later identified as 79-year-old Elizabeth resident Edward Purcell.
Purcell was reported missing by family members on January 28th of this year.
An autopsy was performed by the Union County Medical Examiner’s Office, where it was determined that there was no evidence of foul play surrounding the circumstances of Mr. Purcell’s death.