MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Nearly a day after authorities sought help from the community in locating an elderly man reported missing by his family, his body was discovered in the woods just yards from his home. Cleveland Trotter was found by family members Monday morning, during a massive search of the area. Trotter had been shot in the head.
Trotter’s family reported the 83-year old missing late Saturday night, Feb. 6, after he was last seen in the vicinity of his home on Poor House Road, in Winona, Montgomery County Deputy Josh McBride said.
“He had been missing for about 24 hours when the report came in,” McBride said. “He went across the road to visit a neighbor and never made it back home.”
McBride said the search for Trotter began around his home, but because of the density of the woods, his body could have been overlooked.
“The family had been looking since Saturday and the deputies also went out there,” he said. “But these were very thick woods. They could have easily walked over him and not seen him. But some of the family went back out there that Monday morning and they happened to find him.”
McBride said Trotter was fully clothed and wearing a light jacket. He also said the only apparent trauma to the body was the gunshot wound. A .38 caliber handgun was also found near the body. The Montgomery County coroner was called and Trotter was pronounced dead at the scene.
McBride said Trotter’s death is under investigation and at this point has not been ruled either a suicide or a homicide.
Trotter was taken to the Mississippi Crime Lab in Jackson for an autopsy.
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