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Taylor County man missing since Nov. 4th, found deceased

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November 10th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Bedford, Iowa) – The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Thursday evening, reported a man missing from Blockton since around 8-a.m. last Friday, November 4th, was found deceased in his vehicle at around 5-p.m., today (Thursday).

The 2014 Ford Escape 81-year-old Junior Lee Rusco was driving, was located in a field on the southwest edge of Redding, Iowa. Taylor County Deputies were assisted by an Iowa State Patrol Aircraft in locating the vehicle. Mr. Rusco’s body was taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.

Junior Lee Rusco

Previously, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office had reported Mr. Rusco was enroute to Grant City, Missouri, where he purchased fuel there at the Casey’s store, around 6:35 a.m. on November 4th. Witnesses also say he was in Redding at around 6:45 a.m. and seemed very confused.
An air search by the Iowa State Patrol was conducted in the Blockton/Grant City area earlier in the week, but Rusco’s vehicle was not located. There had been no activity on any of his known bank accounts since the purchase at Casey’s.
The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office thanks the following agencies for their assistance: Iowa State Patrol; Iowa Dept. of Public Safety; the Ringgold, Worth and Nodaway County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Ringgold County EMS.