Endicott Man’s Body Found at Abandoned Vestal Nursing Home

Vestal police are investigating the death of an Endicott resident whose body was discovered on the property of an old nursing home.

Authorities received a report that a deceased person was found in a parking lot behind the former Vestal Nursing Center. The body was spotted by someone who was walking near the property.

Vestal police officers were sent to the site at 860 Vestal Road around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Investigators said the body was identified as 59-year-old Benjamin Garrett of Endicott. They said he had been reported missing by relatives.

Police said an autopsy on Garrett's body was performed Wednesday morning at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton. The autopsy results were not released by detectives.

A news release indicated there was no indication "that anything malicious or suspicious occurred" to cause the death of Garrett." But police said their investigation is continuing.

Police said Garrett routinely walked home at night along Route 17 from his place of employment in east Vestal to his Endicott residence. He was wearing blue jeans, a blue sweat shirt and a camouflage hat. He had been carrying a backpack.

Detectives asked anyone who believes they had seen or interacted with Garrett since 10 p.m. October 2 to contact investigators at (607) 754-2477.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.