The search for a missing Shelbyville man has ended.  Now, the search for what happened to him begins.

Derek B. Beagle, 44, was found in the attic above Shelbyville apartments located at 14 East Broadway.  Beagle had been missing since November.

Shelbyville Police Detective Jason Brown addressed the media Tuesday afternoon with the following information (the 7-minute press conference can be seen on the GIANT fm Facebook page):

On September 30, 2019 at 7:31 AM, Shelbyville Police Department patrol officers were dispatched to an empty apartment at 14 East Broadway Street, to meet with maintenance personnel who had located human remains.

Officers and medical personnel arrived at 7:33 AM and confirmed a deceased human being had been located in the attic above the apartments. The S.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division was notified and responded.

Investigators processed the scene, and with the assistance of personnel from the Shelbyville Fire Department and the Shelby County Coroner’s Office, the body was removed. Shelby County Emergency Management personnel also assisted at the scene.

A post-examination was performed early this morning by a forensic pathologist. The decedent has been positively identified as Derek B. Beagle, a 44-year-old white male who went missing on November 24, 2018 in the 300 block of West Jackson Street, here in Shelbyville, Indiana. Derek was reported missing to this agency on December 01, 2018.  There were no signs of foul-play surrounding Derek’s disappearance.

At this time, the cause and manner of Derek’s death is undetermined, and is still under investigation. 

There were no signs of foul play at the scene.  At no time, either during Derek’s disappearance or now, do we believe the public was or is currently in danger.

We strive to answer every question.  Unfortunately, we also realize this isn’t always possible. However, we always encourage those to be patient and allow the authorities to do their job.

Early social media posts indicated the body was wrapped in a blanket, a rug, or by other means. This was simply inaccurate.

We met with the family earlier this afternoon and they have asked that everyone respect their privacy as they process this information and mourn their loss.

This matter is still on-going and under investigation.  Any new evidence or information in this case, that can be released, will be released at that time.