An off-duty state police officer located the body of a missing Barnstead man Wednesday, according to police.
The body of Paul Barnet, 54, was located between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Peacham Trail in Barnstead, said authorities.
Police said they were still investigating the circumstances around Barnet's death as of Wednesday evening.
Barnstead police responded to the report of Barnet's disappearance on Dec. 13.
Family members told police they hadn't seen or heard from him since Dec. 6, and neighbors last reported seeing him doing yardwork on Dec. 10.
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Paul Barnet, 54, a Rochester, NH police officer from 1989 to 1996, has been missing for over a week after last seen in his yard by neighbors on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. Since he was reported missing, officers have checked Barnet’s residence, property and neighborhood, but have so far been unable to locate the missing man. Friday’s search included Barnstead police, State Police K9 units, and a number of officers from the state Fish and Game, McDowell said. The group split up into teams of two, and with Barnet’s home as the epicenter, spanned out in all directions, performing a grid search from 8 a.m. until about 7 p.m. included wooded areas nearby and a number of snowmobile trails.
While the land around Locke Lake has been searched, police currently have no information that would encourage them to search the lake itself.
Last week, Barnet’s ex-wife Ruthanne Barnet, of Alton, said she is concerned foul play might be involved, and has been worrying and trying to gather any information she can on her ex-husband and where he might be.
Barnet, she said, would never just walk away from his family, particularly his two daughters, Hannah and Haley, one of whom graduated from the University of Rhode Island Saturday.
“He’s the greatest father anyone could ask for,” Ruthanne said Friday. “He’s always been there to be a father even though we didn’t get along. He’s a good guy. He’s supposed to be at my daughter’s graduation … He was so proud and looking forward to it.”
Ruthanne said she last saw Barnet at Thanksgiving, and that nothing seemed out of the ordinary. And when she went to his house a few days ago to look around in hopes of finding some clue to his disappearance, nothing seemed wrong there either.
“The house was fine, there was milk in the refrigerator and food, the cat was there, his bed was made,” she said.
Barnet’s daughter Hayley Barnet, of Alton, said in an email Tuesday that while neighbors say they saw her father on Dec. 12, he was also seen on Dec. 8, walking north on Route 20 in the breakdown lane at approximately 8:30 p.m. He was reportedly wearing jeans, a puffy winter jacket, a backpack and a CD player and using a walking stick, Hayley said, adding that family members believe that since these clothes were not found in his home, it is likely what Barnet is wearing.
Hayley said that there is a lot of speculation as to what could have happened to her father, but it appears to her he left suddenly with the intention of returning shortly, since his keys and wallet were still at the house and his cats were without food and water when she visited the home on Dec. 13.
“He wouldn’t let them be deprived for a week, let alone a day,” Hayley said Tuesday. “We’ve called every number in his contact book and no one has seen or talked to him recently. We fear something may have happened while he was out walking.” The family plans to continually search and ask the public to please help by looking at anyone closely who may be Mr. Barnet. Please keep him in sight and contact authorities.
Anyone with information regarding Barnet’s whereabouts is asked to call the Barnstead Police Department at (603) 269-4281,or your local police.
