{"id":546878,"date":"2026-03-26T18:14:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T18:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/546878\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T18:14:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T18:14:08","slug":"body-of-hospital-patient-missing-since-october-found-in-massachusetts-lake-da-says-boston-25-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/546878\/","title":{"rendered":"Body of hospital patient missing since October found in Massachusetts lake, DA says \u2013 Boston 25 News"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEWTON, Mass. \u2014 Search crews have recovered the body of a man who has been missing since he escaped from a Massachusetts hospital<\/a> in October, the district attorney said Thursday.<\/p>\n

Authorities identified Leonard Mercury, 57, of Acton, after search crews pulled his body from Crystal Lake in Newton, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said in a statement. <\/p>\n

Mercury was last seen leaving Heywood Hospital in Gardner, where he was being held for a mental health evaluation, shortly before 2 a.m. on Oct. 31, 2025. <\/p>\n

Mercury broke a window at Heywood Hospital and jumped from the roof into the bushes below before fleeing the property, according to an email from the hospital to Mercury\u2019s wife, Nicole La Guerre.<\/p>\n

Gardner police seek public\u2019s help searching for a missing man, concerned about his well-being <\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hospital patient remains missing after escaping mental health hold <\/p>\n

La Guerre appealed to the public for help in finding her husband shortly after he went missing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am expecting the absolute worst. I\u2019m hoping that what my brain is saying is not what\u2019s happening,\u201d La Guerre, who shares two sons with Mercury, told Boston 25 in early November.<\/p>\n

At the time, Gardner Police searched for Mercury but were unable to locate him. <\/p>\n

Over several months, several searches also involved Westminster Police, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, the Massachusetts State Police Dive Team, the Massachusetts State Police Special Emergency Response Team, and the Massachusetts State Police Marine and K-9 units.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Gardner Police conducted an aerial search of Crystal Lake using drone technology.<\/p>\n

The drones revealed what appeared to be a human body floating in the water, Early said. <\/p>\n

The Massachusetts State Police Dive Team then recovered Mercury\u2019s body. <\/p>\n

An autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death, Early said.<\/p>\n

The incident remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney\u2019s Office, State Police Crime Scene Services, and the police departments in Gardner and Westminster.<\/p>\n

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. <\/p>\n

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n