Loyal Pit Bull Guards Body of Missing NY Man Until Discovery, Police Report

According to the police, a guy was found dead in northwest New York this week. His dog was with him and was still alive.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office says the man was found in Lewis County.

Officer James Blackwell of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department said Friday afternoon that Cody M. Johnson’s body was found by a camp owner in the area around 3:35 p.m. Wednesday. He had his pit bull with him.

“Afton, his dog, hadn’t left…” “Cody was found alone and healthy, along with the dog,” Blackwell wrote in an email. He later added that it looked like Johnson may have died from being outside in the cold.

The district attorney and coroner for Lewis County, Jeff Tompkins, told USA TODAY that an autopsy will happen on Saturday morning.

TV station WWNY reported that Johnson’s dog calmed down after being given water and treats. At first, the dog wouldn’t move when authorities tried to move him. WWNY said that his dog is being cared for by a family friend but will finally be given to a family in North Carolina.

The man was last seen on Sunday afternoon, and the sheriff’s office said on Facebook Sunday that he was missing. At 2:30 a.m. Saturday, he was last seen at his home in Watson, which is about 95 miles northeast of Syracuse. That day, he called at 11:30 a.m., and that was the last time anyone heard from him.

On Sunday, the police also said that his pit bull with a black and white harness was dead.

What the sheriff’s office wrote was that Cody might be walking around in the highly wooded area. They asked for help in finding him.

The search was helped by New York State Forest Rangers.

Thoughts on Cody Johnson

Family and friends talked about Johnson’s death and remembered how nice he was when he felt like talking to anyone.

One Facebook user wrote, “You changed many lives in many ways.” You were nice, but you didn’t come out of your shell for everyone. Thank you for letting me know about you. “I will always remember you.”

The poster also said that they were glad Afton, his dog was okay and that he had helped people find Johnson.

Someone on Facebook also said, “He’s such a loyal dog that he stayed with you until you were found.”