Updated AT 415pm.
The body of a missing 74-year-old Massillon man has been found outside a home where he apparently sought help when hhis truck broke down..
Stark County Sheriff's investigators say the body of John Vales was found at 7:45 a.m. this morning on Kenyon Avenue when the homeowner discovered the body. Vales' truck was found in a wooded area near-by.
Investigators say it appears that the truck had a mechanical problem that forced Vales off the road and into the wooded area not far from his home. The truck hit a tree.
Vales left the truck and went to the near-by home for help and fell off the porch and landed in a flower bed where he was discovered by a resident there
The Stark County Coroner says the preliminary cause of death is exposure. An autopsy will be conducted.
Previous Coverage
Police are asking for your help finding John Vales, 74, of Massillon. He was last seen Monday morning and is reportedly suffering from medical issues. ODOT has message boards across northeast Ohio noting Vales may be in a 2000 Black Sonoma truck, license FQZ 7483, and the Missing Adult Alert covers most of the northeast part of the state as well as the southeast portion of Ohio.
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(State of Ohio) A MISSING ADULT ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE FOLLOWING REGIONS: (regions), NORTHEAST-ERIE, HURON, RICHLAND, LORAIN, ASHLAND, MEDINA, CUYAHOGA, WAYNE, HOLMES, COSHOCTON, SUMMIT, STARK, TUSCARAWAS, LAKE, GEAUGA, PORTAGE, ASHTABULA, TRUMBULL, MAHONING, COLUMBIANA, CARROLL, JEFFERSON, HARRISON SOUTHEAST- MUSKINGUM, GUERNSEY, BELMONT, MORGAN, NOBLE, MONROE, VINTON, ATHENS, WASHINGTON, JACKSON, MEIGS, GALLIA, LAWRENCE.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A MISSING ADULT FROM MASSILLON, OH LAST SEEN ON 3-4-13 IN THE CITY OF MASSILLON, OH AT 10:00 AM. INFORMATION AS OF 3-4-13 9:11 PM
THE ADULTS NAME IS JOHN VALES (STATUS IS MISSING) AGE 74 YEARS OLD, WHITE MALE HEIGHT 5 FEET 5 INCHES WEIGHING 100 POUNDS WITH BROWN HAIR AND BLUE EYES. THE INDIVIDUAL WAS LAST SEEN IN MASSILLON, OHIO WEARING JEANS AND DUCK SHOES.
THIS INDIVIDUAL MAY BE DRIVING A 2000 BLACK SONOMA TRUCK WITH THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER FQZ7483.
PLEASE CONTACT THE STARK CO SO AT 1-330-430-3800 OR DIAL 911 IF YOU SEE THE INDIVIDUAL OR SUSPECT.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SUFFERS FROM A MENTAL DISABILITY AND MEDICAL ISSUES
