Man missing since Sunday found dead

A 69-year-old man who had been missing since Sunday was found dead yesterday in a wooded area near his family's Old Bridge home.

Police believe Amandio Reguinga, who was visiting from Portugal, killed himself.

"We have reason to believe it was a suicide, but it's still under investigation by the Middlesex County Examiner's Office," said Old Bridge Lt. Robert Weiss.

Police and firefighters from Old Bridge, Sayreville and South River began searching for Reguinga after his family reported him missing around 8 p.m. Sunday, when he failed to return from a walk. A helicopter from the Monmouth County sheriff's department was also used in the search.

Reguinga, who with his wife, Ermeelinda, 67, had been visiting his son, daughter-in-law and twin grandchildren since late May. They were supposed to return to Portugal Sept. 11, said daughter-in-law Helen Reguinga.

Helen Reguinga said her father-in-law would go walking a couple of times a day, so it wasn't unusual when he told his son, Jose Reguinga, that he was going for a walk Sunday evening. But when more than 45 minutes passed, Helen and Jose started to worry, Helen Reguinga said. The family was concerned because Reguinga didn't speak English.