An elderly man who was reported missing last week was found dead on Interstate 84 near Pendleton on Tuesday.
Troopers from the Oregon State Police, along with officers of the Pendleton Police Department, responded to the report of a deceased adult male along the shoulder of Interstate 84 just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers found Neil Schulte, 73 of Nordland, Wash., who was pronounced dead. Schulte was discovered near the highway right-of-way fence adjacent to the on-ramp to I-84 at milepost 209 westbound.
The OSP learned that Schulte had been traveling from Austin, Texas to Nordland and was reported missing by his girlfriend on Dec. 4. Travis County Sheriff’s Office in Texas took a missing person report on Schulte on Dec. 4. Schulte ‘s vehicle had been towed by the Oregon State Police as an abandoned vehicle near the I-84 209 interchange on Dec. 3, prior to Schulte being entered as a missing person.
The Oregon State Police Pendleton Crime Lab along with the Umatilla County Medical Examiner responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. Preliminary investigation indicates that Schulte died of natural causes and no criminal activity is suspected.
The Oregon State Police Criminal Investigation Division assumed lead on the investigation and was assisted by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, The Washington State Patrol and the Pendleton Police Department.
