Short life lived well, says family of missing man

Paul Watkins may not have lived the easiest life because of his mental illness, but he gave it his all, Watkin's father said Friday, one day after authorities confirmed bones found last week ended the family's 15-month search for their missing son.

"Paul was just a real special individual. He was loving and caring even though he had this illness, " Bob Watkins said via cell phone from Maryland. "He never seemed to lose any of that from the time he was first diagnosed."

Watkins, 29, diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at 16, would suffer from delusions or hear voices when he wasn't medicated, his mother, Nancy, said. But weeks before he disappeared Feb. 16, 2002, he'd quit taking the medicine because of side-effects.

She believes he must have heard voices that told him to drive into the desert where his disabled car was found four days after he was reported missing.

Human skeletal remains, along with Watkins' driver's license and car keys, were found last weekend in the El Dorado Canyon east of Minden.

Authorities were awaiting expert examination of dental records before confirming it was indeed Watkins. That confirmation came Thursday.

The saddened parents were informed by phone as the couple vacationed in the East.

"We're doing as well as can be expected, but we're still devastated," Bob Watkins said. "He was so, so special."

Further examination of the remains was unable to determine a cause of death, but authorities don't believe foul play is involved, Investigator Robin Hall of the Lyon County Sheriff's Department said.

How Paul Watkins died may always be a mystery, but at least his fate is known, Bob Watkins said.

"Not knowing gave me an empty, aching feeling that just never went away," he said. "Now that we know about Paul, we are going to go into a different stage of that. But I don't think the pain will ever go away."

"At least we know he's in no more pain. He's in heaven," Nancy Watkins said.

Bob Watkins said he will miss everything about his youngest son -- from Paul's compassion for others to his sense of humor.

"He was just a joy to have around. He even uplifted me at times when I would get down," Bob Watkins said. "He always had at real knack at getting you into the mood to laugh."

The younger Watkins' bravery and commitment also amazed his father.

"I will always remember him for being very faithful," he said. "And I admired him for taking the chance to move here with us even though he was in a secure situation in Virginia. He said 'I want to be with you and, besides, somebody has to take care of Mom while you work.'"

The family hasn't made funeral arrangements yet.

Watkins is survived by his parents, two sisters, two brothers and four nieces.