David Lee Niles
The body of David Lee Niles, a man who went missing for almost a decade, has been found inside a sunken car that had been visible at the bottom of a pond for years on Google Maps.
According to Mirror Online, David Lee Niles disappeared on October 11, 2006 after walking out of his local pub following a meeting with a pal. He was 72-year-old when he disappeared. He was suffering with cancer at the time and is thought to have walked out of Jake's Bar in Byron Township, Michigan, "abruptly".
After he went missing, Mr Niles family continued to search for him until finally giving up in 2011.
In an obituary to him, the family wrote at the time: "Davie Lee Niles, age 72, of Wyoming, passed away and only God knows the time and place."
After he went missing, Mr Niles family continued to search for him until finally giving up in 2011.
In an obituary to him, the family wrote at the time: "Davie Lee Niles, age 72, of Wyoming, passed away and only God knows the time and place."
Since that day, no trace of the elderly father was ever found - until a man spotted the top of a car below the waters of a pond while he was in a life decorating a Christmas tree this week.
However, one Brian Houseman was recently working on the tree outside Cook Funeral Home in Byron Center on Tuesday when he noticed something submerged in a nearby pond.
The pond where David Lee Niles was found
Speaking to WOOD-TV,Mr Houseman said: "All of a sudden, it's like, 'Whoa, there's a car out there'.
"No one could ever see it. It was murky and things moved around."
Incredibly, the image of the car could be seen in the water from an overhead satellite image on Google Maps.
After spotting the roof, Mr Houseman called police who raced to the scene and pulled the vehicle from the water.
Inside the mud and rust-covered car were the skeletal remains of Tragic Mr Niles - who was found less than half a mile from where he was last seen.
The car being pulled out of the pond
As news of the discovery broke, the 72-year-old's family gathered around the site to pay their respects.
Son-in-law Scott Hathaway told WOOD-TV: "For us today, it's a closure of a long search.
"Why God waited nine years, I have no idea, but we're happy. It's good to have him home."
Although the remains have not been formally identified through dental records yet, officers have said they are happy it is Mr Niles as it was his car and his wallet was also inside
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