Body found in Walker County may be missing person | News

WALKER COUNTY, AL (WBRC)- Authorities in Walker County are working to determine if a decomposed body found Monday is that of a young man reported missing on Sunday.

The body of a young black male was found in a wooded area of the county just outside Jasper just off of Florida Avenue in the Frisco area. He was clothed and sitting several hundred yards from the pavement.

While authorities won't say if the person was killed at this spot or if there were any visible signs of injuries they do think it's connected to a missing persons case reported about four days ago.

"Apparently, they pulled up to the turnaround part and drug the body out in the wooded area," James Painter, Chief Deputy with the Walker County Sheriff's Office, said.

The sheriff's office learned about the body from Jasper Police who were out working a missing persons case.

"And they got some information a body was dumped and they started going to different dead ends and found it," Painter said.

It sat just a few yards inside Walker County territory. The person Jasper detectives had been looking for: 24-year-old Jesse Joseph, who was reported missing Sunday. Investigators believe that's around the same time the body may have been dumped here.

"We fairly believe this is the same Peron but we want to wait on the autopsy," Painter said.

Johnny Harris lives in the area and thinks the death is drug related but it doesn't really scare him.

"Not really. I just have to protect myself. If they come here, I have to be scrait too," Harris said.

Though authorities think this may be the missing person reported Sunday, they need to review autopsy reviews before confirming an identity.

Late this afternoon, the Walker County Coroner said it may be Thursday before they learn the identity and cause of death of the person.

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