Body of Missing Bank Executive David Widlak Likely Found, Cops Say It's Homicide
MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (CBS/AP) Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel said he is "very certain" that the severely decomposed body found in a swampy area just northeast of Detroit is that of bank executive David Widlak, who went missing last month.
Officials say Sunday evening duck hunters found the body believed to be the 62-year-old Widlak, of Grosse Pointe Farms, less than five miles from the building where he was last seen, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Authorities found personal belongings including personal identification, a cell phone, money and clothing identical to that worn by the banker when he was reported missing Sept. 19.
"We're 99.9 percent certain it's David," Hackel said.
Widlak, who according to a company Web site was responsible for three divisions of the Community Central Bank Corp Inc., was last seen at the company's administrative offices. A maintenance worker saw Widlak's car in the parking lot and when the worker proceeded to the executive's office around 7:00 a.m. he found it in disarray.
Though the cause of death has yet to be determined and there were no weapons found near the the body, Hackel said the case is being treated as a homicide.
The body was apparently found in about one-and-a-half feet of water and would not have been visible from the road, according to investigators.
"It is quite probable he has been there for the entire length of time we were looking for him," said the sheriff.
Widlak's wife, Anne, said that though the outcome of the search was not what she had hoped for, she is "thankful to know he's been located."
Ray Colonius, chief financial officer and acting chief executive officer of Community Central Bank, released a statement Monday saying that staff, management and board officials are "deeply saddened" and offer our thoughts, prayers and condolences to Anne and the rest of his family."
An autopsy was scheduled for Monday.
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