Rugby league star Bryn Hargreaves found dead in woodland directly across the ... trends now A former rugby league star missing for 14 months was found in woodland directly across the road from his home in West Virginia, it emerged tonight. Local people criticised the Sheriff's Department on their own Facebook page after the remains of ex-St Helens player Bryn Hargreaves, 37, were formally identified after being discovered last month. The remains were found in late February but only identified yesterday and Mr Hargreaves' family in Wigan informed. According to a statement on the Monongalia County Sheriff's office Facebook page, a 'large-scale search' of the area around Cheat Lake, where Mr Hargreaves lived was carried out by members of their department, police, fire search and rescue, the FBI, a mountain rescue group MECCA 911 and volunteers 'over a several month period with negative success.' But locals in the area were critical, with one woman asking, 'Where were they looking?' Bryn retired from rugby aged just 26 after becoming disillusioned with the game and then moved to the US to work in the oil and gas industry His body was found in woodland (pictured) directly across the road from his home in West Virginia, it emerged tonight Bryn, pictured with his ex-wife Amy, was reported missing in January last year when he failed to turn up for work Resident Michael Weber posted: 'How can you do a 'large scale search' and not find his body which was found LITERALLY across the street from Whisper Creek Apartments!!!!! I'm calling BS on this one folks' Mr Hargreaves was reported missing after he did not turn up for work last January, sparking a major police hunt in West Virginia. At the time of his disappearance, he had retired from rugby and was working as a gas and oil pipe safety inspector and was living alone following his divorce from Amy Lombardo two years previously. Yesterday his brother Gareth confirmed Bryn's death with a post on Facebook: 'RIP Bryn Hargreaves. With incredible sadness I can confirm after 14 months we have finally found Bryn. Bryn vanished from his home in Whisper Creek, just outside Morgantown in West Virginia (pictured) where he had moved following retirement from rugby Bryn's home was discovered empty and police said they were sure he was not using his Jeep, pictured His family last spoke to him on Facetime on January 3 - making this one of the most recent photos of Bryn to emerge Gareth Hargreaves, Bryn's brother, announced the body of his brother had been found on Facebook yesterday Gareth Hargreaves announced the passing of his brother Bryn on Facebook yesterday 'We still do not know the cause of death or what actually happened on 3/1/22. Thanks to all those that have helped in the search.' Hargreaves' last known location was his luxury apartment at the Whisper Creek Complex, off South Pierpont Road in Monongalia County. His body was found between South Pierpont Road and Hanalei Drive, only a short distance from Whisper Creek. His mother Maria Andrews told local TV station WBOY last year: 'Where he lives, it's amazing. But unfortunately, it's so isolated. And that's what's happened, he became a recluse.' Bryn, originally from Wigan, made 175 appearances in the sport's top flight, Super League, for Wigan Warriors, St Helens and Bradford Bulls. Here he plays for the latter in 2011 Hargreaves, pictured here on the right, played in the prop position and for Wigan Warriors, St Helens and Bradford Bulls Bryn Hargreaves played in the Super League for Wigan, St Helens and Bradford, which he is seen representing here Bryn, from Wigan, made 175 appearances in the sport's top flight, Super League, for Wigan Warriors, St Helens and Bradford Bulls Bryn had a distinctive tattoo on his shoulder (pictured) which his family hoped would help track down their son She said she believed that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, due to his repeated head hits in rugby. It caused him to have seizures that wouldn't go away and he crashed his Jeep on Dec. 8, 2021, after having a seizure while driving down the road. He had to stop working after the crash, his mother said. 'That would have been Bryn's worst nightmare because he couldn't walk, he was bed-bound,' she said. Sky Sports and Bryn's former clubs Wigan Warriors and Bradford Bulls all paid tribute to his memory Another local, Kiley Marie, commented on Facebook: 'That's literally directly across the road from where Bryn Hargreaves lived.' She pointed out that the police did search the area when he went missing in winter, but added 'Perhaps he was overlooked in the brush. 'I feel so bad for his family, all this time with no answers .. couldn't help but think of him with it being so close to where he went missing.' Another resident, Jacinda Hickman posted: 'Oh my goodness.. I live right by where Bryn lived and the wooded area has had a horrible stench for quite a while. I had no idea about his disappearance until I saw earlier comments.' The Sheriff's Office said it was waiting for a completed autopsy report from the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner before a cause and manner of death is determined. Once that report is received an updated press release will be made available. 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