An employee at the Shell Refinery in Martinez was found dead late Wednesday night inside a tank after a search of the refinery property that lasted most of the day, according to Martinez police.
William Maddock, a logistics department employee who had worked with the refinery for more than 20 years, was found at about 11:20 p.m. inside a water tank at the refinery, according to Martinez police.
Maddock did not show up for a scheduled meeting early Wednesday morning and there was no record of him leaving the refinery, according to Shell spokesman Steve Lesher. Employees use an electronic badge system to sign out of the site.
Maddock worked a night shift, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and didn't show up at his "turnover meeting" at 5:30 a.m., Lesher said.
The Martinez Police Department was notified shortly after 8 a.m. that Maddock was missing, and a Contra Costa County sheriff's search and rescue crew, a helicopter and several search dogs also assisted Shell employees in the search for Maddock at the refinery, located at 1800 Marina Vista Ave.
