HASTINGS, Fla. – The family of a man who was reported missing in September told News4JAX he was found buried in rural St. Johns County Monday, and investigators confirmed his on-again/off-again girlfriend is a person of interest in the case.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that detectives investigating a tip in the Chad Mullen missing person case began searching a property Monday afternoon at 852 Federal Point Road in Hastings (St. Johns County) about a quarter-mile from the Putnam County line.
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Due to the amount of recently moved dirt on the property, detectives along with forensics teams from St. Johns Sheriff’s Office, FDLE and the Medical Examiner’s Office began to search, dig and sift dirt from the area and gradually uncovered a body.
Robert Rash found Mullen’s body buried under dirt in front of the home.
“Honestly, I was happy to find him for the family,” Rash said.
The sheriff’s office said it was still awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the identity and the cause and manner of death. However, Muller’s family told News4JAX he was the person who was found buried.
“It literally feels like a movie,” Hollie Mullen, Chad’s daughter, told News4JAX Wednesday.
On Sept. 15, Mullen’s family reported him missing.
“We were supposed to go to Texas to be with family. That’s when I was kind of like, ‘Okay, this is for real,’” Hollie said. “At first it was just kind of unbelievable. I was just like, ‘He’s just going to come back.’”
Crime Stoppers of North East Florida along with the family of Mullen were offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to his whereabouts.
Mullen was last seen on Sept. 9 before traveling with his on-again/off-again girlfriend, Caylen Deller, to the area of 465 San Mateo Road in Satsuma, the location of his girlfriend‘s business. Mullen’s phone last pinged in that area.
The sheriff’s office along with Mullen’s family conducted several searches for him in the area around his house and his last known location.
Hollie said she and her mother are going to dig deep to make sure justice is served.
“He is such a lovable person as well so whoever did this is truly malicious and evil,” Hollie said. “He was my rock.”
Deller, who was named a person of interest in this case, appeared in court Wednesday on unrelated charges.
Anyone with information is asked to contact CrimeStoppers of NE Florida at 1-888-277-8477 or download the P3 app. Tips are anonymous.