Investigators are fairly certain a body found on the banks of Clear Creek in southwest Carson City early Sunday morning is that of an Indian Hills man missing since Jan. 14.
Dennis Kelly, 62, was last seen by his wife as he left the couple's home to take a walk. Douglas County Search and Rescue crews conducted a number of searches in the hills surrounding Kelly's home in the days and weeks following his disappearance.
On Sunday, a Las Vegas man was hiking just off Clear Creek road along Clear Creek, when he came upon the remains of a man.
R. Fenners said he's visited the area since 1998 and has camped along Clear Creek in the past. Just after 8 a.m., Fenners said, he was making his way to an area he likes to call Shangri-La falls when he noticed the legs of what he thought was a sleeping man. He said he called out and when he didn't get a response, he used his walking stick to jostle the body.
Fenners then hiked back out along the creek and contacted someone at an auction at Fuji Park to call police.
"I was scared," Fenners said of his solemn walk for help.
Undersheriff Steve Albertsen said the remains appeared to have been there for "a while" and had been disturbed by animals.
A backpack was found near the body contained the type of items you would take on a walk, said Coroner Ruth Beseler.
Because the remains were located on the Carson City/Douglas County border, and Kelly is a missing person out of Douglas County, Douglas County Detective Dennis Slater and the Douglas County coroner were called out to the scene.
Slater said Kelly's family was notified that remains were found, but a positive identification is pending a forensic examination.
"We are 99.5 percent sure this is our missing guy," Slater said.
Carson City Search and Rescue crews walked the creek's bank after the remains were removed but found nothing of worth.
Slater said Douglas County Search and Rescue crews with cadaver dogs will be brought out to also search the area.
Carson Sheriff's Lt. Robert White said metal detectors will also be used in the search. The earth in the ravine in which the remains were found underwent a lot of movement in recent weeks with snow melt and evidence of what had happened to the man found there could be buried under soil.
Albertsen said foul play is not suspected in the man's death.
Kelly's wife said in the past that her husband was despondent over personal issues, and she believed he may have taken a walk into the hills adjacent to the Indian Hills to have some personal time.
An autopsy is expected to be performed today.
• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.
