WEATHERSFIELD — The identity of a body found in a wooded area of the township in December has been identified as Randy J. Michaels, who was reported missing from Youngstown in May of 2021 when he was 33.

Youngstown Police detective Jason Simon stated in a news release that after Michaels was reported missing by his mother, Youngstown police launched a missing persons investigation that spanned months, but Michaels was not located. He was subsequently entered into LEADS / NCIC and NAMUS.gov in the event another law enforcement agency encountered him. Though various tips and information came in over the years and were followed up, Michaels remained a missing person.

In late November, the Struthers Police Department (while looking into an unrelated matter) received information about a previously non-reported death within their city. An investigation was immediately launched based upon that intelligence, which led Struthers police detectives to believe the unreported death may be Michaels. They then received a credible, actionable tip that Michaels’ body was located in a wooded area off of Salt Springs Road, just over the border of Mahoning and Trumbull counties in Weathersfield.

Read the full version of this story in Friday’s edition of The Vindicator