The body of a local man missing since December was found Thursday afternoon near Towaoc, according to officials.

Arnold Dean House, 49, was discovered in the Dry Creek Road area east of Towaoc, said Montezuma County Coroner George Deavers.

The cause and time of death are not known, he said, but exposure is suspected as a factor. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday to determine cause of death. Family members have been notified.

Search teams and family members had been looking for House for weeks, said Ute Mountain Ute public safety director John Trocheck.

A flier being distributed in the area and on social media stated House had been missing since Dec. 24. However, Deavers said there were reports of him being seen in the Cortez area on Jan. 11.

House worked as a day laborer, Trocheck said. He was often seen walking or hitchhiking along U.S. Highway 160/491 between Towaoc and Cortez. He also frequented the area of Woody’s Food Store north of Towaoc on U.S. 491.

On a Journal Facebook post responding to the search for House, a former co-worker described him as a “very kind” individual who “was always super helpful.”

In a social media post on the evening of Jan. 31, House’s sister, Tapoof Porambo, stated House had been found by family members searching for him.

“Thank you a million times (to) the people who took time out of their daily lives (to) help us and family look for my little brother,” she wrote. “Thank you law enforcement.”

jmimiaga@the-journal.com