The body of a 19-year-old Eagan man who ran away from home more than two weeks ago was found Saturday in a wooded area of Patrick Eagan Park.
Elijah David Buchanan's body was found by members of the Dakota County Special Operations Team while searching an area south of Berry Ridge Road, Eagan police said. Preliminary investigations show that Buchanan died as a result of cold weather conditions on Nov. 28, the night he fled home.
Police responded to his home after a report that Buchanan was "out of control" and had caused significant damage to the interior, police said. He left before officers arrived and was believed to be heading toward the nearby park, which spans more than 100 acres.
A police K-9 unit led authorities to the park the next day, but Buchanan's body wasn't found. Several additional searches involving a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter also yielded no results.
Buchanan left the house without appropriate clothing for extreme weather. The Hennepin County medical examiner's office is investigating the case.
LIZ SAWYER
