Body Found In Backyard Of Missing Novato Man's Home
NOVATO (CBS / BCN) -- The FBI found a body in the backyard of a home on Rebecca Way Wednesday night as part of a search for a missing Novato man.
Authorities found the body while excavating the backyard of 74-year-old Dale Smith's home around 8:20 p.m. The body has not been positively identified.
A neighbor told police on February 9th that Smith had not been seen for several months, Capt. Jim Berg said in a news release. Smith's wife Evelyn did not report him missing beforehand.
KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:
Police then initiated a missing person's case and interviewed Smith's neighbors and family, Berg said.
On Feb. 11, police asked the California Office of Emergency Services for cadaver dogs to check Smith's property, Berg said.
The results of the canine search were inconclusive, Berg said.
Lt. Dave Jeffries said Wednesday afternoon that the dogs reacted to something but the search had "mixed results."
On Wednesday, Novato police asked the FBI's evidence recovery team to excavate the backyard of Smith's home, Berg said.
Smith had been suffering from bladder cancer, esophageal cancer, and congestive heart failure, according to his attorney.
Police have described Evelyn Smith as a "person of interest" in the case.
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