SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – A volunteer at a church day camp in Southfield found human remains in a wooded area Thursday.
The body was found near the Korean Presbyterian Church on 9 Mile Road near Inkster Road.
A seventh grader made the discovery. He came back to tell others he saw a body or someone sleeping, but no one believed him at first.
The boy persisted and pursuaded a college-aged camp counselor to check it out.
An autopsy identified the man as Robert Harvey, of Detroit. He was 81.
Harvey was reported missing May 20 by his guardian, who told police Harvey was in poor mental condition.
The pastor of the church encountered a man fitting his description on June 1 as she was unloading some packages.
Authorities do not know where he was going or what he did in the 12-day interim.
The pastor said the man offered to assist her. She thanked him but declined and when she turned to ask if he needed help, he had already made his way around the building. She said his last act likely on this earth was to try helping somebody.
The autopsy could not determine a cause of death, but no trauma to the body was found or anything to suggest foul play.