Community to unite after 74-year-old missing man found deceased
Tim Flanner, the volunteer coordinator for the Facebook Page Finding Jerry Kinman, said after hearing the devastating news that Jerry Kinman, a missing 74-year-old man, was found deceased that he, volunteers, the community as a whole were really shaken up.
“One good thing about the family, they’re strong Christians and strong faiths so they do have that reassurance that he’s in a better place,” Flanner said.
Jack Woodbury, the son-in-law of Kinman, told ABC 17 News during search efforts that his father-in-law was a respected Baptist minister.
Flanner said he plans to use the Facebook Page as a platform to rally the community together to give back to the Kinman family but needs suggestions.
“I know I interacted with several people that I’ve never met in the community and just seeing the volunteers that came out day after day just to look, take walks just doing what they could… everyone just came together as one,” Flanner said.
The Callaway County Sheriff’s Office hosted a media conference at 9:45 p.m Tuesday at Little Dixie Lake to provide further information regarding the investigation.
“At approximately 6:42 this evening (Tuesday) dispatched received a call from one of the community volunteers indicating they found a body on the Conservation area near County Road 228. A deputy was extremely close to the recovery site, arrived within three minutes. Upon investigation a preliminary identification was made that the body was of that of the missing person, Jerry Kinman,” said Clay Chism, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office.
The search for Kinman began Saturday morning with no leads in place, leaving officials to re-evaluate their search efforts.
Officials told ABC 17 News they searched 733 acres of the Little Dixie Lake Conservation area with a 205-acre lake Saturday and continued their search efforts until they received the phone call that Kinman’s body had been found.
Chism stated during the media conference, no foul play is suspected and an autopsy will be held Wednesday.
Kinman family members expressed their utmost gratitude and appreciation for all those involved in trying to determine his whereabouts and stated it’s time to take care of their family.
“You know of course they’re grieving right now. I feel like we should do something as a community to show our love and show that we are thinking of them,” Flanner said.
Flanner said the Facebook page created for Kinman shows a lot of love for the family and hope that the family sees all the messages it’s getting.
