Coroner Rules Cause Of Death For Missing Minnetonka Man

The elderly man from Minnetonka whose body was found in Carlton County on March 1 died of exposure caused by dementia and mini-strokes, according to the Carlton County coroner.

The death of Gerald Patrick Maloney, 81, was ruled accidental.

On Monday, Feb. 27 at about 6:30 p.m., Maloney was reported missing to the . Maloney had left his residence at 11:30 a.m. to visit a car repair service in Golden Valley. He never made it to the service location. Police said Maloney may have been confused because of memory problems.

A snowmobiler called Carlton County 911 at about 7:40 p.m. on March 1 after discovering an abandoned vehicle on a snowmobile trail in the Clear Creek area–about 15 miles east of Moose Lake, according to the Duluth News Tribune. Authorities found Maloney dead outside of his vehicle.