Body found near Hines Drive identified as Westland man who went missing in 2024

James Sanford, a 75-year-old Westland man with dementia, went missing in April 2024 after leaving his home without medication. His decomposed body was found in March 2026, partially submerged in a creek near Hines Drive, about two miles from his home, and was identified using dental records. The cause of death remains under investigation.