AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) is investigating after a dead body was discovered near MoPac Expressway and Parmer Lane on Wednesday.
In a press conference later in the afternoon, police confirmed that they believe the body belongs to missing man Paull Patterson, the 76-year-old behind an Austin-area Silver Alert. On Thursday, family members told KVUE his identity has been confirmed.
The body was discovered on the 12600 block of N. MoPac southbound. According to police, it was located just over a half mile away from the Colonial Gardens memory care facility where Patterson was being treated.
The body was located by a citizen who then called 911. The area where he was found was only feet away from an area where officers had previously searched, police noted on Wednesday, leading officials to believe Patterson was mobile at the time.
Police said Patterson left the facility on foot on Nov. 6, followed by a staff member. The APD said they were contacted 7 hours later.
That facility told police they had conducted an exterior search and then called 911 when Patterson was determined to be missing. A Silver Alert was issued the following day.
Police continued searching in the days leading up to his discovery. From Nov. 11 to Nov. 14, detectives also followed up on potential sightings in Round Rock, South Austin and area hospitals with no luck.
Then, on Nov. 15, detectives received information that Patterson may have been on his way to New Mexico, and his Silver Alert was expanded.
Watch Wednesday's full press conference below:
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