Body found on South Florida beach during search for missing Oklahoma man
A body discovered on a Martin County beach is believed to be Michael Debevec, a missing man from Oklahoma, though authorities await official identification.
MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. —
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office found a body on the beach, but authorities have not confirmed whether it is the missing man they were searching for.
Previous coverage: Martin County Sheriff’s Office searching for man visiting from Oklahoma
Sheriff John Budensiek said the body has not been definitively identified as Michael Debevec, but the individual was wearing clothing that matched what Debevec was last seen wearing.
“Somehow it does look like he’s ended up dead here about 100 yards out into the mangroves between us on the river behind us,” Budensiek said.
Michael Debeve II, was visiting the area from Oklahoma and had not been seen or heard from since Wednesday afternoon. His car, wallet, and backpack were recovered at Bear Chastain Beach.
“And then we don’t see him anymore. We see him in surveillance footage prior to him coming here,” Budensiek said. “Phone tolls tell us at 5 in the morning, roughly 5:10 in the morning that would now be Friday morning that his phone is on from 5:10 in the morning until roughly the same time the following morning.”
During that 24-hour period, investigators tracked his phone moving between Chastain Beach and the House of Refuge.
“What really threw us off…was later that day which now we’re in the Saturday. Later that day,” Budensiek said. “We got a phone ping…his phone comes on and it’s in Celebration, Florida off I-4.”
This prompted investigators to look into Debevec’s background, where they learned this was not his first time being reported missing.
“But in the past, he’s gone missing in St. Lucie County and found three days later in the mangroves alive in St. Lucie County,” Budensiek said.
While the sheriff’s office believes the body is likely Debevec, Budensiek said the agency is awaiting confirmation from the medical examiner due to significant decomposition.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
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