FRANKFORT, Ky. — Additional testing is required to confirm the identity of a body found in the woods off I-75 in Laurel County, according to the state medical examiner's office.
On Wednesday, a couple found the unidentified body near Exit 49 while livestreaming their search for Joseph Couch.
Kentucky State Police (KSP) spent days searching over 28,000 acres of forest looking for Couch, but ended the manhunt hours after the body was found, saying items were found near it that lead them to believe it's his.
The body was sent to Frankfort for proper identification, however Chief Medical Examiner Dr. William Ralston said Thursday that a soft tissue DNA test came back "inconclusive" and more testing is needed.
“At this time, we are able to confirm that the autopsy revealed the cause of death to be a wound consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head,” Ralston said. “In addition, we are performing a toxicology test to verify if any drugs were present.”
Officials will conduct another test on DNA extracted from bone on Friday. The results are expected within 24-48 hours after.
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