Missing Green Bay man found dead in Ozaukee County

GREEN BAY, WI- (WGBW) – 37-year-old Benjamin Berendsen, a missing man from Green Bay, was found deceased in Ozaukee County Wednesday. 

Ozaukee County Sheriff’s officials say he was found in a heavily wooded, swampy area east of I-43 in the Town of Belgium early Wednesday morning.

An extensive search for Berendsen had been conducted since Friday, November 29th, when his vehicle was located unoccupied on the shoulder of I43 northbound north of Silver Beach Rd. The investigation began when a citizen reported seeing a disabled vehicle, which was later linked to a missing person case in Brown County.

Ozaukee County officials searched for Berendsen including a search of his vehicle, K9 tracking, drone searches, searches conducted by foot, inspections of hunting blinds and outbuildings in the surrounding area, canvasing of area residences and businesses, tracking phone pings, and identifying and contacting individuals with whom Berendsen had recently been in contact.

Wednesday morning, another K9 track and foot search took place in the area where Berendsen’s vehicle was located. The search led Deputies to a remote, swampy, and heavily wooded area east of I43 and north of Silver Beach Rd. that was difficult to access. Berendsen was located, deceased, in the wooded area.

The investigation is ongoing with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. No additional information is available.