Police: Man’s body found under his crawl space

PENDLETON, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina police say a body found in a tiny crawl space under a house has been identified as a 75-year-old man who had been missing more than six weeks.

James Thomas’ body was discovered Wednesday by his son.

Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore told the Independent-Mail of Anderson (http://bit.ly/ninM5q ) he thinks James Thomas was in the crawl since he disappeared June 21. The crawl space was no higher than 18 inches.

Michael Thomas said he smelled a strong odor while helping his mother move from the home, then looked under the duplex and found the body.

James Thomas’ family say he suffered from dementia and wandered away from his home in the past, but was always found nearby.

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Information from: Anderson Independent-Mail, http://www.andersonsc.com