WEST SENECA, N.Y. — West Seneca Police on Thursday night said they found the body of a man "with physical features consistent with our missing person."
Police on Wednesday issued a Missing Vulnerable Adult Alert for a 53-year-old man, Milton Monnin, who was reported missing on Wednesday, Jan. 19 around 4 p.m. He was last seen Tuesday, Jan. 18 in the area of Transit Road, south of Seneca Creek Road.
West Seneca Police said Thursday they located a man's body in a wooded area west of the Mayer Brothers facility off Transit Road, near Buffalo Creek. The body will now be examined by the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the man's identity and cause of death.
Police said that process could take days.
"We have ended search operations at this time and would like to thank the numerous agencies that assisted us with personnel and equipment," West Seneca Police said.
Capt. James Unger from the West Seneca Police Department told 2 On Your Side earlier Thursday, "We believe that he is in some emotional distress as well as some physical distress."
In a Facebook post, the police department said Monnin suffered from schizophrenia, as well as a traumatic brain injury, adding that he may be in need of medical attention.
"We worked throughout the night searching areas that we were able to get access to," Unger said. "However, our capabilities were limited by the dark and the circumstances last night."
Thursday morning, West Seneca Police coordinated a search with assistance from the Erie County Emergency Services Unit and local fire departments. Unger says the Erie County Sheriff's Department Air 1 Helicopter was being deployed to help look for Monnin. Meanwhile, units from local fire departments were searching the ground on UTVs, ATVs, and snowmobiles.
"We've checked all the local hospitals and warming shelters," Unger said. "Unfortunately we haven't been able to come up with anything yet. But we continue to follow up with those areas to make sure that he hasn't shown up recently. We're hopeful that he's in a warm, dry place and is OK, but we're going to do everything that we can to try and find him."
Monnin is a white man with brown hair, brown eyes and a long goatee. He is said to be 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 230 pounds. Police say he may be walking with a cane.
At the time was believed that Monnin was traveling on foot. He was believed to be wearing a dark colored Columbia jacket and sunglasses.
Anyone who has seen Monnin or may have information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the West Seneca Police Department at (716) 674-2280.