Authorities in Durham say they found the body of Alton "Bob" Carson not far from where he was last seen.
Police say Carson went to Angier Avenue Baptist Church, as he did every Sunday morning, then to the Hardee's restaurant on Miami Boulevard for breakfast. He was last seen there around 10 a.m.
Around 2 p.m Sunday, Durham police received a call about a suspicious car on Barnes Avenue, about an hour away from the Hardee's. Following the lead, authorities found Carson's grey Oldsmobile Cutlass Sierra with a large amount of blood inside.
Because of the amount of blood found, and witness' description of a man they say they saw near the car, police pursued the case as suspicious.
Officers spent much of Sunday evening combing a five-mile area. They suspended their search around 8:30 p.m. because of the rain.
Early Monday morning, Carson's body was discovered behind the Heilig-Meyers Furniture store at The Village Shopping Center on Miami Boulevard. The store is just a few blocks from Carson's home.
Liv Burgess, Carson's neighbor of 30 years, was stunned by the news. She says it is a reminder that people are not even safe in their own neighborhoods.
"Bob probably would have never thought anybody would have been that close to him that would have harmed him," Burgess says. "It makes me think that somewhere out there there are still people lurking, just waiting."
The cause of death was not immediately known. The body has been sent to Chapel Hill for an autopsy, and those results should be in later this week.
Police say they have no suspects at this time. They are asking anyone with information to call Durham Crimestoppers at(919) 683-1200.
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