By Edgar Kelley

Staff Writer

BOWDEN – Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon confirmed that the remains of a missing man from Berkeley County were located in Randolph County Thursday.

The missing person was identified as Brent L. Rees, 32, who was last seen at his home in Berkeley County on Oct. 8, officials said. Rees was described as an “at-risk Marine veteran.”

Elbon said his office received a well-being check request in the Bowden area on Shavers Mountain in Randolph County Tuesday. The caller reported that an unoccupied vehicle had been parked in a remote location for approximately one week.

During the investigation it was discovered that the owner of the vehicle was entered into the NCIC as a missing person. Elbon told The Inter-Mountain Thursday morning that officers had been searching the mountainous terrain for the missing person the past three days and that close to 50 officers were scouring the woods on Thursday.

Law enforcement’s stage point for the search was the Alpine Shores Campground, and Elbon told The Inter-Mountain that the terrain where the search was conducted was very difficult to maneuver through.

Elbon said search efforts included the use of canines and drone deployment, as well as foot and UTV search teams.

Assisting the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office in the search efforts were the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Police and Canine units, West Virginia State Police, West Virginia Emergency Management Division, Randolph County Office of Emergency Management and E-911, Randolph County EMS, Whitmer Volunteer Fire Department, Beverly Volunteer Fire Department, Coalton Volunteer Fire Department, Tygart Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Leading Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Parsons Volunteer Fire Department, Alpine Shores Campground and Elkins Walmart.

“The Sheriff’s Office extends our gratitude to everyone who assisted in the search efforts,” Elbon wrote. “Although it was not the outcome we hoped for, the collaborative effort was instrumental in the recovery.”