After searching for three days, police found the body of 25-year-old Marcus Chen in a forested area about 2.3 miles from his home in Oakwood Heights. The police chief, Diana Rodriguez, said they discovered him at 8:47 AM on Tuesday. Many people had reported strange activity near where Chen was last seen.
Marcus's death is mysterious, and the police are investigating. Forensic teams are collecting evidence from where he was found and from his apartment. They believe he'd been dead for about 72 hours, but they're waiting for autopsy results to know how he died.
Marcus worked as a software developer at a company called TechCore Solutions. His coworkers reported him missing on Saturday because he didn't show up for an important meeting, which they said was very unusual for him.
Security cameras showed Marcus leaving his apartment at 11:42 PM last Friday, carrying a black backpack and wearing dark clothes.
The search included 47 police officers and K-9 units, and they used special technology to look through the thick woods. Many local volunteers, about 156, also helped by searching around Oakwood Heights.
The police have created a timeline of Marcus's last known activities. They saw him buy bottled water and energy drinks at a Local Mart store at 12:03 AM on Saturday. His last phone signal was at 1:17 AM near Maple Drive and Harrison Street.
Detective Sarah Martinez, who's leading the investigation, said they're looking into Marcus's personal and work life. They're checking his messages and bank transactions.
The police have set up a tip line and are offering a $25,000 reward for any important information. Anyone who knows something can call the Oakwood Heights Police at 555-0123.
