Tampa man found dead in pasture
An 82-year-old Tampa man, missing for 81 hours, was found dead in a pasture in Morris County at about 11 a.m. Thursday.
Robert Vajnar had been reported missing by his wife, Jane, at 2 a.m. Sept. 22. He had driven their vehicle, and was reported to be confused and disoriented as to place and time.
Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker said a concerned citizen found Vajnar's body around 11 a.m. Thursday one mile south and five miles east of Burdick.
An autopsy will be conducted in Topeka to determine the exact cause of Vajnar's death.
Preliminary indications are that exposure was a factor. The temperature Wednesday night was down into the 40s.
Also, lack of clothing, food, and water may have played a part in his death.
After being notified the man was missing, Becker said his department put out ATL's (attempts to locate) and broadcasts about the situation.
On Sept. 24, the sheriff's department contacted various media outlets to let people know the man was missing.
"We were about ready to put a plane up in the air to look for him, when he was found," Becker said.
Sheriff's officers from Marion County went to the scene to help identify Vajnar.
Vajnar had driven about 20 miles from his home in Tampa. "He apparently drove east on 330th Road until he ran out of road," Becker said.
