July 19, 2006

Augusta, Maine - A search team led by Game Wardens discovered the body of a missing Augusta man late this morning.

The body of 27- year old Nathaniel Shultz was discovered at approximately 11:45 in a field bordered by woods on one side and Route 27 on the other in Northern Augusta. A small ground search team led by Game Warden Allan Gillis discovered the body in a small ravine in the field east of Route 27.

“We want to thank all who were involved, including the volunteers,” said Nathaniel’s parents, Andy and Chris Shultz, in a released statement. “Our son Nat had a medical condition that needed treatment at a hospital. It was our hope to provide that as soon as possible. Nat was a good person whose brain sometimes went out of order. He needed our help.”

Shultz was discovered nearly ˝ a mile from his truck, and 475 feet from the road. Earlier in the search, Game Wardens had found some of his clothes and personal belongings in the woods, as well as footprints in the area near where Shultz was found.

Game wardens, with the help of the Augusta Police Department, Department of Conservation Forest Rangers, and numerous volunteers conducted an intense ground and air search over the past two days.

Shultz was last seen on Saturday night, July 15. He had driven to the edge of the Augusta Industrial Park, abandoned his car and fled into the woods.

Game Wardens coordinated the search in a ˝ mile by 1-mile stretch of woods north of the industrial park west of Route 27 in Augusta.

The body was delivered to the office of the State Medical Examiner, where an autopsy is to be performed in order to determine the cause of death.