Family says body found in Menifee is missing 81-year-old

Red star shows the location in Menifee of the discovery of a body identified by the family as Manuel Soto Gonzales.

The family of Manuel Soto Gonzales, who had been missing from his Lake Elsinore home for a week, confirmed today that the body found on Thursday near Simpson Road and Lindenberger Road in Menifee was that of Manuel.

The news was confirmed to Menifee 24/7 by a friend of the family and an announcement was made on the Facebook page "Help us Find Manuel Soto".

"Family and friends, with sadness we inform you that we found our grandpa. He is with God, meeting with his brothers. Thank you for all your support and love," the announcement read.

Soto Gonzales, 81, had been missing since Nov. 7 from his home in the Canyon Hills community, just west of the Menifee border near Herk Bouris Elementary School. Law enforcement officials and residents conducted a search, following up unsuccessfully on tips of possible sightings, and the CHP issued a Silver Alert on Monday. Then on Thursday afternoon, the Sheriff's Department reported that the body of an adult male was found in a field near the Heritage Lake Community in northeast Menifee.

The Sheriff's Department initially did not confirm the identity and the Coroner did not immediately release the name, but a family friend said officers were at the Soto home Thursday night to break the news. Subsequently, the news was posted on the Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station Facebook page.

Soto lived with his wife, children and grandchildren in a home on Yarrow Court in the Canyon Hills community. His granddaughter, Cynthia Soto, told Menifee 24/7 in an interview this week that she had already left for work on that day and her grandfather was in the house with his wife, who was sleeping, and Soto's aunt, who was upstairs. Soto Gonzales was discovered missing about 8:30 a.m.

A neighbor's Ring camera shows Soto Gonzales leaving his home about that time. A neighbor reported seeing him walking in the neighborhood about 8:45.

"He said he was going for a walk," Soto said. "He's not aware of location and time. He won't ask for help because he doesn't think he's done anything wrong."

Soto suffered from dementia. Cynthia Soto said he may have been confused when taking a walk because he still believed he lived in Tustin, where he resided until about a year ago.

The Sheriff's Department said there was no evidence of foul play at the scene where the body was discovered. No other details were released.

The family friend asked Menifee 24/7 to express the family's thanks to everyone for their prayers and their work in searching for Manuel.