NORTH PORT POLICE SAY THE BODY FOUND IN A WOODED AREA NEAR GLADVIEW CIRCLE AND VANOVER TERRACE MARCH 18TH WAS THAT OF A MISSING PORT CHARLOTTE MAN. AUTHORITIES SAY 27 YEAR OLD ROBERT FOLKINS HAD DRIVEN DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY FROM PENNSYLVANIA ON MARCH 14TH AND HAD PARKED HIS TRUCK ACROSS THE STREET FROM HIS PARENT’S PORT CHARLOTTE HOME. HOWEVER, FOLKINS DISAPPEARED AND CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES REPORTED HIM MISSING THE NEXT DAY. POLICE SAY THERE WAS A GUN FOUND AT THE SCENE ALONG WITH A BLUE BICYCLE AND OTHER ITEMS. THEY SAY THEY COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY FOLKINS DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE BODY. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER MADE THE IDENTIFICATION LAST FRIDAY AND SAID TUESDAY THAT FOLKINS DIED FROM A SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOULD TO THE CHEST.
