Authorities locate body suspected to be missing person

Posted Thursday, January 6, 2005

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Searchers located a body of a black male suspected to be that of Willie Headen this morning after a search was organized by volunteers from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Pittsboro Fire Department, North Carolina Forestry, North Chatham Fire Department and East Chatham Rescue Squad.

The body was found approximately 500 yards from the residence of Willie Headen, an alzheimers patient, who was reported missing on Saturday October 16. Authorities searched many days for Mr. Headen with no results.

“We felt like he was still out in those woods,” says Sheriff Webster. “We all have been troubled since Mr. Headen’s disappearance. We were obviously concerned that he had not been found and looking again was just the right thing to do. The family needed closer,” The Sheriff continued.

The body was transported to UNC Hospital for an autopsy.