The week-long search for a missing U.S. Marine ended in tragedy this weekend when his body was found during a search in Browns Mills, New Jersey on Saturday, according to his family and a search team leader.

Officials and relatives have not yet said where Sgt. Tristan Clinger was found or how he died.

Clinger, 28, a father to young children, went missing on Dec. 20 around 4 p.m. when he left Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in South Jersey on foot, according to his wife.

Clinger, originally from Louisville, Ky., served in the Marines for five years. His wife says he appeared to be distraught shortly before he went missing. Missing in America, a group that dedicates its efforts to finding missing persons, as well as volunteer groups, joined officials in the search.