Missing man was found dead Sunday

A Pennville man who had been missing for more than a week was found dead in his vehicle this weekend.

Lawrence E. Kirkpatrick, 73, was found in his vehicle in the Salamonie River about 3:30 p.m. Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kirkpatrick had been reported missing March 21.

Jay County Coroner Brayden Fields said Kirkpatrick is believed to have drowned as a result of the accident. There are no plans to conduct an autopsy on his remains.

According to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report, Kirkpatrick was driving his 2008 Jeep Patriot west on county road 300 North near its intersection with county road 750 West when his vehicle went off the south side of the road. It continued 225 yards across a field before going over an embankment and hitting a tree, the report says. His car then flipped and landed on its driver’s side in the Salamonie River, submerging him underwater.

A farmer discovered the vehicle Sunday afternoon.