Judge asked to declare missing man legally dead

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A Yuma County Superior Court judge is being asked to determine whether 62-year-old William Hardy should be declared legally dead after going missing in 2019.

Thomas Asimou pleaded his case before Yuma County judge Claudia Gonzalez. Asimou called four witnesses to the court to testify on Hardy's disappearance and the investigation that led no where.

Hardy's fiance/caregiver, Jeana Brown, took to the stand to tell the courtroom the last time she saw Hardy which was in his home washing dishes. Brown says she was leaving town for a few days with her mother, and didn't hear from him after that.

A neighbor told investigators they last saw Hardy drive his Chevy pick-up truck from him home on February 16, 2019.

He was never seen again.

50 days later, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents contacted investigators to report finding Hardy's truck in a remote section of the Sonoran Desert. It was revealed in the courtroom the location of the truck was less than 10 miles away from Hardy's home.

The truck was said to be locked, no keys in the ignition, or sign of foul play.

Investigators told the courtroom Hardy had no cellphone and also had dementia.

A doctor testified before the judge, saying he doesn't believe Hardy would have survived a few days with his condition.

Judge Gonzalez is set to come to a decision by Friday morning.