UPDATE: St. Joseph County police identify body found in treeline

(WNDU)
Published: Jul. 31, 2018 at 3:02 PM EDT
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn
UPDATE:

Police have identified the body found Tuesday morning in a St. Joseph County treeline.

The man who was found dead is Manuel Martinez, 38, of Will County, Illinois, police confirmed. Martinez was apparently staying with people he knew in recent weeks in LaPorte County and didn't have identification on him, so police had to identify him using his fingerprints.

An autopsy has been completed, but investigators are waiting for the results of lab tests before releasing autopsy results.

EARLIER:

Police are investigating after a body was found Tuesday morning in St. Joseph County.

Just before 10 a.m., an agricultural worker was about to spray a field when he found what he believed was a deceased male along the tree line off Juniper Road, between Osborne and Pierce roads. That's just east of Lakeville.

First responders and police determined the man was dead.

Officers are trying to identify the man. St. Joseph County Police says he appears to be in his late 20s or early 30s, average height (5'8-5'10), roughly 170 pounds, dark brown hair, short and close cut on the sides, tattoos on both arms, tribal style tattoos on the right arm, wearing a black shirt and jeans.

The county coroner, Drug Investigation Unit, and County Metro Homicide are working together on this case.

St. Joseph County Coroner Mike McGann says the man's autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday,

If you have any information about the man's identity, please call St. Joseph County Police at 574-235-9611 , Crime Stoppers at 574–288-STOP or Coroner Mike McGann at 574-303-8569.

Stay with NewsCenter 16 as we learn more.