The body of a Michigan doctor has been found under a frozen pond surface, five days after he went missing from his home.
Dr. Bolek Payan was last seen leaving his home last Thursday (December 23) afternoon by security cameras, which law enforcement got access to after he was reported missing.
Payan was spotted leaving his place of work, the Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, just hours before he was reported missing - and his vehicle remained at his premises, per Fox News.
His disappearance was alerted to authorities after he failed to pick up his dog from a friend's house, and an investigation into his whereabouts was launched.
Blackman-Leoni Public Safety (BLDPS) put out a Facebook alert on Christmas Eve to gather information about his whereabouts, but it was to no avail.
Authorities then conducted an extensive search of Payan's property and the surrounding area, including K-9 units, on-foot officers, and drones, but nothing was found.
After the on-land search was unsuccessful, they turned their attention to a nearby pond and began cutting holes in the ice covering it.
Per the BLDPS, Payan's body was found by divers around 12:30 PM on Tuesday (December 27) with authorities believing he died before the missing person report was filed.
The BLPDS released a statement: "At approximately 12:30 PM today, divers recovered the body of Dr. Payan from a pond on the property near his residence.
"Detectives believe Dr. Payan would have been deceased, prior to when he was reported missing, due to the weather conditions on the day that he left his residence and the fact that he was in the water.
"The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office will be conducting an autopsy and toxicology testing, which will aid in further investigating this incident."
Payan's tragic death comes as a winter storm takes its toll on the northeast of the US, with People reporting that the death toll currently stands over 50, with 27 of those in Buffalo.
Reports of people being trapped in their homes as well as their vehicles have resulted in fatalities, including Anndel Taylor who remained in her vehicle for over 24 hours before being discovered.
Our thoughts are with Dr. Payan's family and friends and all those affected by the adverse weather conditions.
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