Man's body found in wooded area west of Bloomington; police investigating
Investigators are looking into circumstances around the death of a man whose body was found in a wooded area west of Bloomington on Friday.
Family members of 45-year-old Jerry Sipes of Bloomington, who has been missing since Nov. 5, believe it was his body that was discovered by a utility company worker on Jan. 12.
Monroe County Coroner Joani Stalcup confirmed that a deceased male was found in the woods off Arlington Road near Westbury Village. She is awaiting confirmation of the man's identity through dental records or DNA before releasing any further information.
Also missing: Police and family members looking for Bloomington man missing since New Year's Day
A missing person report for Sipes was filed Nov. 9, four days after he was last seen when he stepped outside his girlfriend's residence on Monroe Street to smoke a cigarette.
His sister said when Sipes didn't respond to texts or phone calls, she feared the worst. Their mother is ill and in a nursing home, and she said Sipes would have stayed in contact with her if he were able.
Police had no leads on Sipes's whereabouts until Friday, when a worker in a bucket truck spotted what he thought was a human body in a wooded area and called 911.
Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Utility worker in bucket truck finds body in Bloomington-area woods
