Remains Pulled From Canal Identified As Man Missing Since 2005
COCONUT CREEK (CBSMiami) – Police confirmed on Tuesday the skeletal remains, found inside a car pulled out of a Coconut Creek canal, is that of a man missing for nine years.
The Broward County Medical Examiner's Office identified William Naylor's remains using dental records.
Naylor who used to live near the canal disappeared in 2005.
Naylor's daughters were at the canal on Saturday when a crane lifted the green Ford Thunderbird from the water.
Naylor was a 69-year-old retired Broward County environmental engineer who suffered from Parkinson's disease and was taking medication which would make him hallucinate, according to the Sun Sentinel.
The day Naylor disappeared; his daughters had asked him to consider moving into an assisted-living facility since they were concerned for his health. Naylor was angered, according to the paper, causing him to drive off.
The family searched for him for five years before formally filing for their father's death certificate.
His picture was seen on a series of posters. The non-project organization Missing Children International Ministries was part of the search and said it led police to the canal.
Dinorah Perry of Missing Children International Ministries told CBS4's Peter D'Oench, "It's never a total closure but it's a taste of it and I feel very, very good about it."
Perry said she is gratified that the search efforts have apparently paid off.
"I feel good that we found the vehicle. Now the healing can start for the family. There will be a little taste of closure for the family because they waited a long time," said Perry. "It shows you can never give up. That's right you have to keep going. You can never stop, never refuse, just keeping going. I have families missing 40 years and you can never give up."
Perry said this story is all about the power of persistence.
Missing Children International Ministries is an organization that searches canals and waterways in the hopes of locating missing vehicles and persons.
No foul play is suspected.