Body Found Behind Nursing Home

A worker fixing an air conditioner spotted a body in a field Friday afternoon behind the Valleycrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Sheriff’s Lt. David Wiyrick said the description of the body matches that of a man reported missing since last Saturday from the nursing home.

The body showed no signs of obvious trauma and authorities have no evidence of foul play, Wiyrick said.

The nursing center had offered a $500 reward for information about the disappearance last Saturday of Fred Payne, 67.

Deputies found the body face down in the field about 3 p.m. behind the Valleycrest nursing center at 12715 E. Mission.

The man’s body had been there for several days and authorities will have to perform an autopsy before making a positive identification, Wiyrick said.

Payne reportedly was last seen at Matthew’s Restaurant, 2104 N. Pines, on Sunday.

During a Saturday afternoon lunch conversation with other residents, Payne talked about collecting a $15 debt from a friend. Nursing home officials didn’t know who Payne was referring to. He walked away from the nursing home that night after dinner and without his medication.

Mike Mervis, a nursing center spokesman, said the clothing the dead man wore had the laundry identification number of Fred Payne on the clothing.

, DataTimes