Deputies Searching for Missing Carrollwood Man

Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are searching for a local man they say was reported missing two days ago.

Henry Hilliard Shell, 79, of 13403 Pinelake Way, was reported missing on Nov. 14 at 6:10 p.m. That's when deputies responded to his home in reference to a welfare check.

A co-worker of Shell's called the sheriff's office to say they were concerned because they had not heard from Shell since Nov. 10, according to the sheriff's office, when Shell left his business on Florida Avenue to go home.

When Shell didn't come to work on Nov. 14, the co-worker went to Shell's apartment, but didn't find any signs of forced entry or anything out of place, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies said that Shell's vehicle was missing, although he mentioned to the co-worker that he may be heading out of town. Shell didn't specify where he was going.

Deputies tried to call Shell's cell phone, according to the sheriff's office, but it went to voicemail. Deputies also contacted local hospitals and put out alerts for Shell and his vehicle.

On Nov. 15, Shell's vehicle was driven to the Tampa Police Department's headquarters where a body was found in the trunk of his vehicle. Tampa police were questioning the driver of the vehicle, but no information has been released at this point.

The body found in the trunk has not yet been identified as Shell's.

According to a Tampa Police Department media release, "The Medical Examiner has completed the autopsy and the death has been classified an unexplained death pending toxicology. There are no obvious signs of foul play."

Identification of the body could take several days, the release said.

Check Patch for updates on this story.