Autopsy: Elderly Man Found In Golden Likely Died Of Hypothermia

GOLDEN, CO – An elderly Arvada man who went missing and whose body was found in Golden six months later died of hypothermia, an autopsy showed.

A copy of the autopsy of James Mitchell, 87, was obtained from the Jefferson County Coroner's office by 9NEWS, the station reported.

Mitchell, who had been diagnosed with dementia disappeared in Arvada in mid-December, and his blood-smeared pickup truck was found empty and crashed into a Golden train car. Golden police contacted Mitchell's son, who confirmed his father was missing.

Massive hunts for Mitchell were executed by multiple agencies, including Golden, Fairmont and Pleasant View Fire Departments and Alpine Search and Rescue.

Mitchell's body was found in May, beneath a bridge in the Farmer's Highline Canal near Easley Way and 44th Avenue about 7.5 miles away from where the abandoned truck was located.

The autopsy report said Mitchell, who was wearing light clothing and was likely disoriented, hit a rail car and got out of his truck and probably "sought shelter in the culvert of the then-dry canal," 9NEWS reported. Mitchell had a cut on his forehead the autopsy said.

Watch the 9NEWS coverage here.

Image via Golden Police

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