LEXINGTON — The Richland County Coroner’s Office confirmed the identity of a dead body found near the Richland B&O Trail as James Beardsley on Wednesday.
Beardsley’s body was sent to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office to complete an autopsy. That office identified the body.
Tom Stortz, an investigator with the Richland County Coroner’s Office, said Beardsley was identified using dental records. His family has been notified.
Beardsley, a 25-year-old from Polk, was first reported missing Jan. 8. He left a Columbus residence Jan. 5 to travel back to his home in Polk, but never arrived.
His vehicle was found abandoned behind Der Dutchman restaurant in Bellville Jan. 11. The restaurant is located near the I-71/Ohio 97 interchange.
Stortz also said the coroner’s office is still waiting for Beardsley’s autopsy to be completed. That will take six to eight weeks, Stortz said. It will come with a toxicology report and other information.
Beardsley’s body was found Feb. 2 by someone with their dog on the Richland B&O Trail, which spans 18 miles from North Lake Park in downtown Mansfield to the village of Butler.
According to previous Source Media Properties reporting, the dog left the trail and came across the body, which was frozen solid.
