A South Kitsap man reported missing by his family Wednesday morning was found deceased four hours later by search and rescue teams, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Spokesman Deputy Scott Wilson said that John Clarence Makepa Basso, 36, was last seen by his family around 7 p.m. Tuesday evening, but was not reported missing by his family until 10 a.m. the following morning.

When sheriff’s deputies responded to the man’s residence on the 11900 block of Ridge Rim Trail after the family called 911, law enforcement decided to launch a search and rescue mission based on several factors, including the man’s mental state, recent history of erratic behavior and due to the fact that he left the house wearing very light clothing.

The search team included 12 members of the Kitsap Unit of the Washington State Explorer Search and Rescue, four dog teams from German Shepherd Search Dogs of Washington State, and officers from the Suquamish Police Department specially trained in tracking skills and techniques.

Basso was found by Suquamish police officers, around 2:20 p.m., in underbrush behind a residence off of SE Lakeway Blvd.

An autopsy conducted by the county’s forensic pathologist is scheduled to determine the cause and manner of death.

The investigation remains open, but Wilson said at this time investigators do not believe that criminal actions were a factor in Basso’s death.

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