Man found deceased in vehicle owned by missing Bristol man

A local man that was reported missing this week is believed to have been found dead.

According to police, this morning at approximately 10:24 a.m., Bristol, RI Police located the vehicle owned by 76-year-old Alan Mello who was reported missing on May 22.

During the course of the investigation by Bristol Police detectives, it was learned that Mello had traveled to Norton Massachusetts to visit a friend prior to being reported missing. Detectives immediately began tracing the route, believed Mello may have traveled from Norton back to Bristol. While searching the area of Metacom Ave north of Griswold Ave in Bristol, the red Toyota owned by Mello was located off the roadway embedded in extremely dense overgrowth and brush. There were no skid marks or debris that would have alerted anyone that a vehicle had traveled off the roadway.

Upon searching the vehicle, a deceased male was located in the driver’s seat. The Office of the State Medical Examiner responded to the scene and will be working on the determination of the cause of death and positive identification of the driver.

The Bristol Fire Department assisted in clearing the thick overgrowth for investigators to process the scene.

Bristol Police Detectives are continuing their investigation in cooperation with the State Medical Examiner’s Office in determining the cause of death and the circumstances leading to the vehicle to travel off the roadway. The initial investigation has not revealed any foul play or suspicious circumstances.