The body of a man reported missing July 17 was found by a Game Warden K-9 dog on an island across the Colorado River from Snappers July 20.
Sheriff’s Lt. Philip Hester was notified of a missing person report being made at the Sheriff’s Office Wednesday, July 17.
A report indicated that around 5:45 p.m. Sunday, July 14, witnesses saw a man, later identified as Robert Adrian Bearden, around the area of Snappers, where he swam across the Colorado River making it to the Matagorda Island side, climbing the bank and entering the wooded area.
Hester took the Sheriff’s Office drone to the last known location around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, and flew the drone over the wooded area of the island trying to locate the man with no success.
Hester contacted Lt. Ryan Ashcraft who agreed to bring his private helicopter and fly the area on the island Thursday, July 18.
Ashcraft and Hester flew around the island searching everywhere they could, including the waterways, but did not locate the missing man.
The helicopter search lasted several hours.
About 10 a.m. Friday, July 19, Hester met with Texas Game Wardens who brought an air boat and also searched the island near the area Mr. Bearden was last seen on foot.
The search party found bare foot prints in the mud on the west side of the river bank leading into the wooded area, the sheriff’s office said.
The search party followed the foot prints for about ¼ mile before losing the track.
The search party continued searching the Island with no success.
The Texas Game Warden who handles the K-9 located in Hamilton, was notified and it was agreed to bring the dog to search the island near the area Mr. Bearden was last seen entering the wooded area.
The Game Warden and his K-9 arrived Saturday, July 20, and a search was conducted.
After searching for two hours with the K-9, Mr. Bearden’s body was found in a heavily wooded area and he was dead.
Mr. Bearden was identified by tattoos on his hand and forearm.
The man’s body was removed from the island and was transported to Ft. Bend County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
His family was notified of his death.
