Missing Portales man found dead

PORTALES -- A 32-year-old Portales man missing since Monday night was found dead Sunday.

Jay Cole was found near NM 267 in Roosevelt County, Portales Deputy Police Chief Chris Williams said. He said the county sheriff's department was handling the investigation.

Family members said on social media that the body will be taken for autopsy.

Cole walked away from Roosevelt General Hospital at 5:21 p.m. Monday, according to hospital surveillance video. He'd gone to the hospital's emergency room with multiple medical issues, his brother Jared Cole said.

Volunteers had joined family members in searching for the man and had planned to meet early Sunday afternoon to continue the search. It wasn't immediately clear if those searches led to the discovery of the body.

Deputy Williams said last week there was no evidence that Jay Cole had been a victim of foul play in connection with his disappearance.