Tampa man found dead in pasture
Staff writer
Tampa man Robert Vajnar, missing for 81 hours, was found dead in a pasture in Morris County at about 11 a.m. Thursday.
The 82-year-old had been reported missing by his wife, Jane, a long-time Hillsboro Star-Journal columnists, at 2 a.m. Sept. 22.
He had driving their truck, a 1992 Chevy S10 pickup, and was reported to be confused and disoriented as to place and time.
Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker said a concerned citizen found Vajnar around 11 a.m. Thursday a mile south and five miles east of Burdick.
Preliminary indications were that exposure was a factor, as the temperature Wednesday night, for instance, was down into the 40s.
Also, lack of clothing, food, and water may have played a part in his death.
After being notified the man was missing, Becker said his department put out ATL's (attempts to locate) and broadcasts about the situation.
On Sept. 24, the sheriff's department contacted various media outlets to let people know the man was still being sought.
"We were about ready to put a plane up in the air to look for him, when he was found," Becker said.
Sheriff's officers from Marion County went to the scene to help identify Vajnar.
Vajnar had driven about 20 miles from his home in Tampa.
"He apparently drove east on 330th Road until he ran out of road," Becker said.
After his body was taken to a coroner's office in Topeka, it was determined that Vajnar probably died of exposure.
Funeral service were held at First Baptist Church of Durham on Sept. 29. The burial service was held at Durham Park Cemetary.
