Missing Elderly Man Found Dead On Shore

MATTITUCK, NY —The desperate search for a missing elderly Mattituck man ended tragically when he was found dead Thursday morning, police said.

Southold Police said they received a report of a body lying on the shore of Mattituck Inlet; responding officers and marine units located a deceased body matching the description of Richard Hart, 81, of Mattituck, who was reported missing Sunday.

Hart was identified and transported to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office, police said.

According to Southold Town Police, a report came in Sunday at 6:23 p.m. from Hart's family, who said that when they returned home, they could not locate him.

An extensive search was conducted by Southold Police, New York State Police, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office and the Mattituck and Southold Fire Departments into the late evening hours, but he was not found, police said. Police resumed searching until the tragic discovery Thursday.

Patch photo courtesy Southold Police.