RUMFORD — The body of Christopher Gilbert, missing since the start of the week, was found on Friday near Joe’s Pond, police said Friday afternoon.

“Late this morning, a Maine Warden Service aerial drone located Mr. Gilbert’s body approximately 1.5 miles into the woods at Joe’s Pond, concluding a two-day multi-agency search effort,” according to a Rumford police news release. “There are no apparent signs of foul play, and injuries observed at the scene appear consistent with a suicide. There is no danger or risk to the public.”

Rumford police are now working with the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner as their investigation into Gilbert’s death gets underway.

Rumford police and others had previously been searching for Gilbert, 38, in the Virginia neighborhood of south Rumford.

According to a post on social media earlier in the week, Gilbert had contacted a family member and exchanged communications to make plans Monday morning.

That was the last time his friends and family heard from him.

Gilbert “suffered a personal loss recently and it’s unclear if this has anything to do with his disappearance,” the post said.

Gilbert’s body was found just before noon on Friday as aerial search operations were initiated to cover the wooded area between Joe’s Pond and Raymond Street, Rumford police said.

A drone operated by the Maine Warden Service spotted what appeared to be a body and the coordinates were relayed to ground teams, according to the release.

Gilbert’s body was located shortly after.

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FOR MORE SUPPORT, call the NAMI Maine Help Line at 800-464-5767 or email helpline@namimaine.org.

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