PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The man who was last seen on Dec. 22 was found dead Wednesday morning in the bushes of a park, according to his family and police.
James Rennells’ sister — Janice Rennells — told KOIN 6 News that a searcher found his body in Leverich Park by the creek behind the new apartments. She said police are currently at the scene investigating.
Vancouver Police later said the cause and manner of his death will be determined by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Officer. No other information will be released at this time.
Rennells, 41, left his boss’ house 7 p.m. Friday, according to his fiancee, Kashala Wilkinson. She told KOIN 6 News she spoke to Rennells on the phone around 9 p.m. and texted him around 9:48 and he said he would see her soon. He didn’t tell her where he was going when they last spoke, but that was normal, she said.
Wilkinson said she and Rennells had plans to go Christmas shopping on Saturday, but she hadn’t talked to him all day when around 7 p.m. police came to her home and said his car was found near Leverich Park, about a mile from their home.
“There would be no reason that he would be here at all,” Wilkinson said. “We live like a mile and a half from here so why wasn’t he home if his car was here? It doesn’t make sense.”
The car had been ransacked with the trunk and hood open. She believes his jeans and belt were seen tied to a fence near the pond, but the clothes were gone by the time police arrived.