Family, friends hold vigil for missing Fulton man

A candlelight vigil was held Tuesday evening in Memorial Park for Carl DeBrodie of Fulton who was found dead last week.

The vigil was a way for organizers to say thank you to everyone who supported their search efforts.

DeBrodie was reported missing from his individualized support living facility, Second Chance Homes, on April 17. Volunteers searched for about a week before law enforcement found a body encased in cement in an area storage unit. The body was later determined to be DeBrodie.

ABC 17 News looked into Second Chance Homes’ record with the state Department of Mental Health and found several deficiencies and violations over a 10-year span.

At last check, Fulton police were still investigating close to 200 leads in the case.

“We still have approximately nine officers working on it,” Fulton Police Chief Steve Myers said. ” We are getting search warrants for electronic equipment and things of that nature.”

Myers said last week that authorities still have not determined a cause of death for DeBrodie partly because of the decomposition of the body. Investigators believe that DeBrodie was missing for months before he was reported missing.

Mary Martin, a former guardian for Carl, said the investigation is taking it’s toll on friends and family.

“Oh it’s very agonizing, everyday, you’re wanting something to happen,” Martin said. “You want somebody arrested. You want to see the justice for Carl.”

Martin said even after an arrest, she wants more justice and change to be done.

“There still needs to be something done with the Department of Mental Health system,” Martin said. “There needs to be somebody that comes in and audits the counties to see that they are doing their job.”

Martin hopes there’s enough change that people don’t for Carl or his story.

“Once the sensation is over, everybody goes back to their life,” Martin said.

One of the search party organizers, Shellea Young, said the vigil is not only a time to remember DeBrodie but will be used as a voice for those in similar situations.

“We need to be a voice for him in the courts, in our lawmakers offices, as they re-evaluate homes like this,” Young said.