Police Scotland said it was alerted to the discovery off the A90 between Brechin in Angus and Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire at about 12.20pm on Wednesday.
The force said formal identification is yet to take place, but the family of Kenneth Unsworth had been informed.
Mr Unsworth, 46, was last seen on Thursday 20 November, leaving the town of Huyton.
Read more from Sky News:
Man admits driving into fans at Liverpool FC trophy parade
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The death is being treated as unexplained and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
