Coroner: Autopsy on missing York man inconclusive

Investigators have not determined a cause of death for the missing man found dead in a wooded area in York this weekend, according to the York County Coroner’s Office.

The body of Harold Robert Helms, 59, was found Sunday in a wooded area on S.C. 161 in York, authorities have said. York County Coroner Sabrina Gast said Monday that an autopsy on Helms was inconclusive.

Toxicology testing will be conducted and could take several weeks, Gast said.

The York County sheriff’s detectives are treating the case as a death investigation but have released little information beyond that.

Deputies had been searching for Helms since he was last seen Thursday around 3:30 p.m. He walked with a cane, had diabetes and “multiple other medical issues.” Authorities believed he may need medical assistance and had been trying to locate or get in contact with him.

Deputies reportedly used search dogs and even called in a SLED helicopter Thursday night to search for Helms, but were unable to locate him.

On Saturday, investigators said they believed Helms may have hitchhiked to the Spartanburg or Greenville areas. However, his body was discovered Sunday in the area where he was last seen. Helms lived at 2395 S. Hwy. 161 in York.

This story was originally published October 11, 2015 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Coroner: Autopsy on missing York man inconclusive."