WAKEFIELD — The human skeletal remains discovered last week in a wooded area near Wakefield High School have been confirmed as those of a Wakefield man who was first reported missing more than a year and a half ago. News reports over the weekend stated that the remains had been positively identified at those of Richardson Avenue resident Patrick Shea, who was reported missing by his family in May of 2020.
On Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 at about 11 a.m., a survey crew working in the area of the High School on Farm Street located possible human skeletal remains in a wooded wetlands area between the high school tennis courts and Rivers Lane. Detectives from the Wakefield Police Department, State Police Detectives assigned to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, and members of the State Medical Examiner’s Office were called in to investigate.
In the weeks and months following the initial reports of Mr. Shea’s disappearance, extensive searches were conducted by local and State Police, using helicopters, K9 units and dive teams to search both Lake Quannapowitt and Crystal Lake. The family created numerous posters that were distributed throughout neighborhoods and businesses. Prior to his disappearance the 66-year-old reportedly wasn’t feeling well and the posters stated that he would be in need of his medication. Social media posts from his family pleaded for any information on Mr. Shea’s whereabouts.
Mr. Shea’s niece, Shannah Lew, had been spearheading the family’s efforts to get the word out on social media. After the family was notified last week that the remains were those of Mr. Shea, Lew posted a message Friday evening in a Wakefield Facebook group.
“Thank you to everyone who has searched, kept their eyes out and just kept my uncle in your thoughts,” Lew wrote. “It is with a heavy heart I’d like to announce he has been found.”
