Man found dead in Carey

CAREY — Three days after a man was reported missing, he was found dead in a yard less than a mile away from his home. Phillip Joseph Evans went missing from the 300 block of Cherry Blossom Lane in Carey early Saturday morning, according to a release from the Carey Police Department. Officers and deputies from the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office searched multiple areas in and around Carey. Carey police Chief Ryan Doe said Evans was about 26 when he went missing on Feb. 3. Doe also said he was missing about two hours before his wife, Abigail Evans, reported him missing. Doe said he was reported missing about 1:49 a.m. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, black Vans shoes, jeans and a hoodie. Doe said the search for the man happened immediately because of concerns regarding Evans' mental health. A Facebook post made by Abigail about 11:33 p.m. Monday said Evans was not from the area and had only visited about five times over the course of four years. She said he was a Marine, husband and father and that he was loved and missed. Abigail said Evans was home on a leave. On Tuesday, Evans' body was located in a yard in the 100 block of Oakwood Place. Officers from the police department responded to the residence and searched the area before finding him. Doe said there was no significance to the area he was last seen in and the area he was found in being 0.7 miles apart. "I don't know if any foul play was a result of his death," Doe said. Doe said officers were able to process the scene accordingly to preserve any evidence, but the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called in due to the death being classified as "unattended." He said it was a standard move to have BCI assist in preserving the scene. The body was also sent to Lucas County for an autopsy. "It's still an active investigation. We're waiting for the autopsy to be completed at the Lucas County Coroner's Office," Doe said. He hopes the autopsy is completed Thursday morning, and will reveal additional information related to the investigation.