Missing 86 Year Old Veteran Found With Throat Slashed and SUV Stolen

Missing elderly man found with throat slashed survives
News 4 Jax
By Hailey Winslow
April 10, 2017

Family members said Clark is a Navy and Air Force veteran who then retired after years with Maxwell House. They said he was a generous person and would give anyone the shirt of his back.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Police are trying to find out whoever slashed a missing elderly man's throat, dumped him in a water-filled ditch miles from his home and stole his SUV.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said a witness found 86-year-old Melvin Clark on Saturday afternoon lying on Maxville Macclenny Highway, a dirt road west of U.S. 301. Police said Clark had stab wounds and his clothes were completely soaked, appearing to have pulled himself out of a ditch and onto the dirt road.

Clark was airlifted to UF Health Jacksonville with life-threatening injuries.

"He’s got a large cut from ear to ear on his neck," said his wife, Gayle Clark.

Investigators learned Clark was reported missing from Neptune Beach home just over three hours earlier. Clark's wife told police he was going to Academy Sports on Atlantic Boulevard, and then to the Navy Exchange on Mayport Road.

Clark's black 2005 Honda CRV was not found with the victim. Police entered it in the federal stolen vehicle database and Miami-Dade police notified the JSO at 10:30 a.m. Sunday that the vehicle was found in their jurisdiction.

In addition to his SUV stolen, the family said there were fraudulent transactions on Clark's credit card.
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