The weeks-long search for a missing Claiborne County man has ended in tragedy. Curtis Mason, an 86-year-old father from Harrogate, was found deceased in Kentucky, authorities confirmed. The Knox County Sheriff's Department announced on Wednesday that Mason's body was discovered in his van in the Goldens Creek area of Knox County, WBIR reports.
Mason, who vanished on February 26, was the focus of a Silver Alert issued by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. His van, a 2004 Silver Pontiac Montana, had been captured by various business cameras in Middlesboro and Pineville, Kentucky along KY-92. His last confirmed sighting was in Harrogate, the day he went missing, as noted by KCSD. This prompted a cross-state effort to locate him, a man beloved by his family and embedded in the fabric of his community.
According to the information obtained by WVLT, individuals in the area, who were part of the search effort, spotted his van and alerted authorities leading to the grim discovery. The Knox County, Kentucky Sheriff’s Department said he was pronounced dead on the scene, and while investigations continue into the circumstances of Mason's death, no foul play is suspected at this time.
Mason's family, who are grappling with the loss, spoke to the media earlier in the week, noting their vigorous efforts to find him. "We have friends and family out looking for him on foot, and in vehicles," Shreiva Shrout, one of Mason’s daughters, shared in an interview with WBIR. Shrout had moved in with her father two years prior to assist in his care, as he began to show signs of what they suspected was delirium. Despite a CAT scan that showed no immediate concerns, the family was still in the process of seeking further medical advice.
In the ongoing investigation, Knox County Kentucky Lt. Mullins is taking the lead on the Kentucky portion while Claiborne County detectives and the TBI handle the Tennessee side, as per the details from the Ground News report. As the community mourns the loss of Mason, the family awaits answers to bring closure to this heartrending event.
