Leader Staff
Authorities believe a Wescott man reported missing last year accidentally drowned after falling into a pond shortly after he was seen for the last time.
The body of Paul Hudson, 42, was found in a pond near his home in the Whispering Pines area of Wescott around 3 p.m. Sunday.
An autopsy performed Monday concluded the cause of death was drowning.
Shawano County Coroner Mike Jesse said it is believed Hudson accidentally fell into the pond.
Though the time of death could not be determined, it’s also believed the drowning occurred shortly after a family member saw him walking in the vicinity of the Loon Lake boat landing on July 9.
The family reported Hudson as missing to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department on Oct. 10.
Sheriff’s investigators said it was not unusual for Hudson not to have contact with the family for periods of time.
After he was reported missing, investigators interviewed friends and family, and followed up on a number of leads, the Sheriff’s Department said, including a report that Hudson might be with friends in Michigan.
Sheriff’s officials say they searched Hudson’s most probable destinations for several months, but came up empty.