A body found in a remote part of the far northern reaches of the San Diego area this week was that of a missing 76-year-old Riverside County man, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
Search-and-rescue personnel looking for Murrieta resident Robert Cricks found him dead about two miles from his abandoned car late Monday morning in a section of the Cleveland National Forest north of Camp Pendleton, near the Riverside County line, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.
A cause-of-death was on hold pending completion of postmortem tests.
Cricks, who suffered from dementia, was reported missing by his wife Thursday morning, after he abruptly drove off in their car outside a fast-food restaurant in the 40000 block of Winchester Road in Riverside County when she stepped out to run a quick errand.
He had no money or cellphone with him at the time, and authorities believed his cognitive problems likely would prevent him from finding his way home or to any other familiar location.
Searchers found the couple’s silver 2007 Infinity G35 early Monday morning.
— City News Service
