NKyTribune staff
A Boone County man reported as missing since New Year’s Eve has been found dead in a pond near his home.
Callen
Boone County Sheriff’s office responded to a call at about 4 p.m. Sunday, of a body that had surfaced near a pond on Lower River Road.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Boone County Coroner and Boone County Water Rescue, responded to the scene and removed a deceased male body from the pond.
The body was identified as that of Earl “Josh” Callen.
Callen, 39, of Union, Kentucky, was with friends on December 30, at his residence at the 12300 block of Lower River Road. He reportedly had a psychotic episode and ventured into the woods.
Family members reported him as missing shortly before 8 p.m. on December 31.
It was not uncommon for Callen to spend long periods of time in the woods, but family members were concerned because he left without his dog, or his cell phone, which was unusual.
More than 50 workers from several local agencies conducted an extensive search of the area where he was last seen.
After two days the search, which covered more than 2.3 acres, was called off.
There were no reported sightings of Callen until his body was located in the pond Sunday.
A cause of death was not immediately indicated and an autopsy is pending. Next of kin has been notified.
