Person Walking Dog Finds Remains Of Missing Haverhill Man: Reports

SAUGUS, MA — A person walking their dog in Saugus Sunday morning stumbled upon the remains of a Haverhill man who had been missing since July, according to multiple reports.

The remains of John Lawler, 53, were found in the woods off of David Drive, WCVB reported.

Lawler had last been seen July 14 when he left a Saugus rehabilitation center to go fishing, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.

"Lawler left his home with his fishing rod. All of his belongings including his cell phone were left behind," the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System entry reads. "Lawler was physically fit, often riding his bicycle and working out at the local gym. He was last seen walking toward Route 1 carrying his fishing pole."

Sean Lawler, John Lawler's 34-year-old son, told Boston.com last year that his father was staying at the Salvation Army rehab center on Broadway in Saugus in July.

Sean Lawler said that police discovered that on the day he went missing, his father withdrew $5,000 from a bank, then deposited the money in another bank before withdrawing $40. His debit card was used the day he went missing but has not been used since.

Police had searched Hawkes Pond in Saugus and the nearby area with a dive team, according to Boston.com.

John Lawler was a father of four and grandfather of five.

Barbara Hubbard, John's former partner and mother of three of his four adult children, said she and her children were "devastated" about him going missing, Boston 25 reported.