A body found in the backyard of a Daytona Beach home Sunday is that of a military veteran who was reported missing after walking out of an assisted-living facility earlier this month.

  • Body found in Daytona Beach is that of missing veteran
  • Harold Cantrell, 85, had been missing since July 5
  • Body was found in home's backyard on Sunday
  • RELATED: Body found in Daytona Beach, police say

Jon Cantrell confirmed Monday that the body is that of his father, Harold Cantrell, an 85-year-old Korean War veteran who had been missing since walking out of the Indigo Palms facility July 5.

The body was found Sunday on a fence in the backyard of a home at 524 Fairmount Ave.

Jon Cantrell said he was near the neighborhood where his dad was found, passing out flyers and still holding out hope his dad would be safely returned to his adult care facility. Now, he said he and his family are preparing a memorial for veteran Aug. 4.

"It was hard trying to find him," said Joyce Kennedy, a volunteer. "When I'm out and about, I carried water in case I seen him and carry a cellphone in case I would have to call to say he's right here."

Kennedy, like many other volunteers, held out hope during their search.

"It's disappointing," Kennedy said. "Everybody was hoping he'd be found alive."

On Fairmount Avenue, homeowner Calvin Davis said he moved in about two months ago but had not gone in his backyard for several days until his daughter came over Sunday.

"She went back there and came back and said, 'There's a body back there,'" Davis said.

The Volusia County Medical Examiner's Office removed the body, but for Davis and his daughter the awful memories will remain.

"I don't want to see anybody to go like that," Davis said.

Hundreds of people turned out to help in a coordinated search for Cantrell.

In a statement, Cantrell's family said: "We are deeply saddened with his passing. We are comforted by the knowing he is in Heaven with his savior, Jesus Christ." 

The family also thanked various law enforcement, church members and community members and helping them in the search.