Body of Missing Autistic Man Found in Brooklyn

The body of a 20-year-old missing autistic man has been found near the water in the Brooklyn community where his disappearance set off weeks of searches.

Brian Gewirtz's body was found along the shore in the Marine Park section Thursday. Searches began after he went missing from his nearby home Feb. 17.

"We miss him and we love him," said Laura Rivera, Gewirtz's aunt, who described her nephew as "always joyful."

"He was over 18, yes, but he had the mind of a very much younger person because of his disability. And lots of people didn't understand that," Rivera said

Family members said the medical examiner found no signs of foul play. Rivera believes that Gewirtz died of hypothermia.

Donnell Nichols, who organized large-scale searches with help from community groups and law enforcement authorities, said it was believed Gewirtz had been dead for some time. Nichols said Gewirtz, an Eagle scout, likely suffered from frigid temperatures in February after wandering into the grounds of a golf course that is closed in the winter.

Nichols said hundreds of people had joined the search.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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