The body of a man missing from Iowa since mid-December is found in Newton County this week.

The release below is from the Newton County Sheriff's Office:

Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said he was contacted by Johnson County Sheriff Tom Hughes in reference to Nicholas Collins, aged 22 of Tama County, Iowa. Collins had been reported missing after leaving his home on December 19th. The car Collins had been driving was located in the edge of Johnson County at the Arbaugh Trailhead on the Ozark Highlands Trail a few days ago. Johnson County was continuing to head up a search of the area that included multiple agencies and volunteers from all over Arkansas and other states. Sheriff Hughes informed Sheriff Wheeler that a body believed to be Collins had been located just inside Newton County.

Newton County Sheriff's Office personnel responded to the scene and, along with Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division, took over the investigative portion of the case. The body was located in a very steep, rugged and remote area of the Ozark National Forest, approximately 1,760 feet inside Newton County, but approximately 1.7 miles from the trailhead.

The discovery was made by an Arkansas State Trooper assigned to their Emergency Response Team (ERT) which is a specially trained team that responds to many things outside the normal duties of a Trooper and often assists on Search and Rescues. The ERT was part of the larger search effort for Collins.

Investigators confirmed that the person located was Collins who had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Other evidence at the scene also indicated the death was a suicide.

Personnel on scene then began the arduous task of bringing Collins back to the command post. Nearly 40 personnel from at least 12 organizations were involved in just the recovery carry-out part of the mission, which took several hours. Collins' family has been notified of the situation.

During the search, the following agencies or organizations were involved: Johnson County Sheriff's Office, Johnson County Search and Rescue (SAR), Johnson County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Newton County Sheriff's Office, Newton County Coroner's Office, Christian Aid Ministries, Mennonite Disaster Service, Arkansas State Police (including ASP ERT), Arkansas Alliance of Bloodhound Specialists, Harrison Fire Department, Harrison Police Department, Boone County Sheriff's Office, 14th Judicial Drug Task Force, Benton County Sheriff's Office, Benton County SAR, Washington County SAR, Grant County SAR, 3RK9 of Oklahoma, Franklin County SAR, U.S. Forest Service, Madison County SAR, Pope County SAR, Van Buren Police Department SAR, Sebastian County SAR, Red Dirt OK SAR, Logan County All Hazards Team, along with other organizations and volunteers. In all, nearly

1,700 very rugged acres near where the car was found were searched and other leads in different areas of the state were followed up on. Resources used included many ground searchers on foot, helicopters, various specialty K9s, drones, GPS tracking technology and more.

Sheriff Wheeler said, "Even though Newton County only played a small role in this one, it is just another example of many people from a lot of agencies and backgrounds coming together for one mission and working very hard, with no egos getting in the way, to see that mission through. In this case, a very difficult and even hazardous mission. I always like to say that we are all on the same team. Operations like this only further prove that."

Wheeler continued, "I hate that this turned out like it did, but I am glad we are able to provide some answers to a family that has been without answers for what I can only imagine were a very long couple of weeks. Our prayers and condolences go out to them."