By Associated Press - Thursday, May 22, 2014

NEOSHO, Mo. (AP) - A southwest Missouri police chief says a man found dead near a city park suffered fatal injuries when he fell into a ravine.

Employees from Empire District Electric Co. discovered the body of 46-year-old Rodney Hake on Tuesday in woods above Neosho’s Morse Park. Hake had last been seen May 2 and was reported missing May 6.

Police Chief Dave McCracken told The Neosho Daily News (https://bit.ly/1lXF99I ) the remains were identified in an autopsy. McCracken says it appears that Hake was walking northeast of the park and fell into a steep ravine, suffering severe neck injuries.



The Newton County coroner has ruled the death accidental, but McCracken says police are continuing to investigate.

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