Authorities in Taylor County tell NewsChannel 7 they found the body of a missing 46-year-old man Saturday morning.

John Rice of Medford had been missing since June 26th.

The remains were found in a pond near his property on Hillcrest Road in the Town of Chelsea.

Rice's death is still under investigation and that there are no signs of foul play involved.

Sunday the Taylor County Coroner said his autopsy revealed Rice had drowned. He is still waiting for other autopsy results from the lab.

The search by various law enforcement agencies, as well as friends and family of Rice began midmorning Friday after Rice had left a message that was difficult to understand with his relatives on Thursday.

Taylor County Sheriff Bruce Daniels was touched by the generosity by the Medford Community for their assistance in the search.

"We're all members of this community and I think that was evidenced here. The entire community was available to assist us and did," said Daniels.

Some of the agencies that assited the Taylor County Sheriff's Department include The Medford Fire Department, Taylor County Forestry and the Department of Natural Resources.

"I hope that the message that any incident like this sends to our community it that the Sheriff's Department, our Search and Rescue response family; we're all members of this community," said Daniels.

"I think that was evidenced here. The entire community was available to assist us and did."