CLERMONT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
A. J. Rodenberg, Jr., Sheriff
"Leadership By Example"
Office (513) 732-7500
P R E S S R E L E A S E
To : All Media
From: Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg, Jr.
Clermont County Sheriff's Office
Date: July 30, 2006
Re: Missing Man found Dead
Gary Michael Stallings, M/W 53 yoa, was reported missing by his roommate on 06-12-06. The roommate stated Gary was last seen by him on 06-11-06 at about noon walking to the back of their property @ 289 State Route 133, Felicity OH. A van belonging to Stallings was subsequently located approximately one half mile behind the residence in the woods not far from a river overlook. No evidence of foul play was found in or around the van or at the scene. The roommate stated Gary had a history of drug use and depression, and would frequently go out into the woods alone for hours. The area is remote and heavily wooded, and over a period of several days following the report of his disappearance, units from the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office including canines and a Hamilton County Sheriff’s helicopter, searched the area for the subject to no avail. Also, Clermont County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team along with several cadaver dogs from Buckeye Search & Rescue searched the area and were not able to locate any evidence of the subject.
Yesterday evening (Saturday 7/29) at approx 8 p.m. Stallings’ roommate called to report that he had found the remains of a human body in a deer tree-stand on a nearby property approximately one mile from where Stallings’ van was discovered after he went missing. The tree-stand and body were about 40’ up in the trees. Also found at the scene were a shotgun and a small, dead dog. When Stallings first went missing it was reported that a shotgun and his small dog were missing also. The remains were transported to the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office for a post-mortem exam that hopefully will result in a positive identification and cause of death. At this time there is no evidence or indication of foul play and it is suspected that Stallings committed suicide as indicated by notes found at the time of his disappearance and when the remains were found, but no final determination will be made concerning this until the Coroner’s Office has completed an examination of the body.
Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg – Clermont County OH