Missing man's body found

SANDPOINT — The body of a man missing since late February has been found several miles from his home.

Jeffrey Paul Schutz, 55, was last seen on Feb. 20 in the 1300 block of Wrenco Loop in an apparently confused state and formally reported missing on Feb. 23.

Sheriff's Capt. Ror Lakewold said personal possessions, including identification and items of clothing belong to Schutz were discovered by a hiker several miles from the missing man's home. Deputies subsequently located Schutz's body in the Carr Creek area.

While the cause of death has not been definitively resolved, the preliminary information is consistent with exposure to weather elements, Lakewold said.

An autopsy has been scheduled.

The discovery concludes several searches for the missing man, including an extensive, three-day search after Schutz was reported missing. Headed by the Bonner County Sheriff's Office, the search included volunteer members of Priest Lake Search and Rescue, five K-9 teams, and Two Bear Air Rescue, a volunteer helicopter service based in Whitefish, Mont.

The Bonner County Detective Division continued to follow leads and a fourth search mission was completed just over a week ago, using K-9's supervised by Priest Lake Search and Rescue.

Schutz was reportedly depressed and grieving over the death of a pet at the time of his disappearance.

Schutz is a real estate agent with Keller Williams in Coeur d'Alene. The California native lived in a residence on East Wrenco Road.