Body Of Missing MA Man Found In Worcester County Lake

GARDNER, MA — A man who had been missing since October was found on Thursday in a Worcester County lake.

The body of 57-year-old Leonard Mercury of Acton was pulled from Crystal Lake in Gardner on Wednesday, according to the Worcester County District Attorney's Office. He had been missing since escaping from Heywood Hospital in Gardner on Oct. 31, 2025.

Mercury was last seen leaving the hospital shortly before 2 a.m. that day. Search efforts were conducted at the time, but they were unable to locate him, the DA said.

In the following months, several other searches had been conducted by the Gardner and Westminster Police Departments, and the Massachusetts State Police Dive Team, the Massachusetts State Police Emergency Response Team, the Massachusetts State Police Marine Unit and the K-9 Unit.

On Wednesday, Gardner police conducted an aerial search of the lake using drone technology in connection with Mercury's disappearance. The drones revealed what appeared to be a human body floating in the water, which was later recovered by the Massachusetts State Police dive team

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will now determine the cause and manner of death, and the incident remains under investigation. Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, State Police Crime Scene Services, Gardner Police Department, and Westminster Police Department.

No other information has been released at this time.

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