Florida firefighter missing for five days found dead near scene of car crash
On June 22, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office issued a notice stating that 56-year-old firefighter James Von Minden had gone missing after crashing his pickup truck into a tree not far from his home in Jupiter Farms, Florida. The firefighter was last seen near the scene of the crash which occurred on June 19. On June 23, Von Minden’s decomposed body was found not far from the scene of that crash.
Von Minden, 56, lived in Jupiter Farms. He had worked as a firefighter and paramedic in Broward County for 30 years, spending 21 years with Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue and the last nine with Broward County Sheriff’s Office after the Deerfield Beach merged its fire department with the agency. ~ Palm Beach Post
Von Minden was last seen on the evening of June 19 after he crashed his pickup truck near the intersection of Randolph Siding Road and Alexander Run in Jupiter Farms. Witnesses in the area said that he exited his truck and was seen in the immediate area acting dazed and confused. Social media mourners are asking why witnesses didn’t render aid to Von Minden if he was disoriented and injured.
Investigators say friends and co-workers think he may have suffered a head injury from the crash and walked off disoriented, according to the Center for Missing and Endangered, Inc.
Deputies, volunteers, friends, and co-workers searched for Von Minden as soon as he was reported missing on Friday evening. A drone and rescue chopper were also employed in the search – but to no avail. The search continued through the weekend.
Tragically, Von Minden’s decomposing remains were discovered near the northeast corner of Randolph Siding Road & Hayne Lane late Tuesday afternoon. His body was found only about one-half mile away from the scene of his car crash, raising questions as to why he had not been found sooner.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office stated that Von Minden’s death appears to have been a suicide. Public reactions include those theorizing that he could have walked off disoriented and hurt from his truck crash and died from those injuries. As of this writing, an autopsy has yet to be performed.
Von Minden was a husband and father to a teenage boy. He worked at Fire Station 75 in Deerfield Beach. His friends, co-workers and others spent four days searching along canals and in wooded areas, looking for any sign of him. ~ CBS 12 News
For more on the tragic story of missing firefighter James Von Minden being found dead, see the video accompanying this article.
(Cover photo of James Von Minden, Image credit: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)
~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
