Vultures lead to discovery of remains in Kentucky woods believed to be I-75 shooter

UPDATE:

Vultures flying around an interstate exit in southern Kentucky led to the discovery of a body law enforcement authorities believe is Joseph Couch, accused of shooting five people from a wooded perch just off I-75 on Sept. 7.

The remains will be sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for positive identification, and to determine the cause and manner of death.

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As reported Wednesday on News Center 7 at 11, Phillip Burnett Jr., Kentucky State Police commissioner, and John Root, Laurel County Sheriff, said they believe they are certain the remains are that of Couch.

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About 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, two troopers with the London Post KSP and two civilians, identified as Fred and Sheila McCoy, found the remains in deep brush behind exit 49 in Laurel County.

Troopers had been in the area all day and noticed the vultures, Burnett said. While in the wooded area, they detected a strong odor of what appeared to be decomposing flesh but weren’t sure whether it was animal or human, he said.

Troopers heard voices and asked the voices to identify themselves -- The voices were that of the McCoys, who advised the troopers they too were in the area searching for the suspect’s remains.

Burnett said detectives were at the scene Wednesday night, continuing to process it as part of the investigation. Detectives also found other “articles” associated with the investigation, he said, declining to share details because of the ongoing nature of the investigation.

He said the McCoys are to receive $25,000 in reward money -- $15,000 from Laurel County Crime Stoppers and $10,000 from a private donor.

They were very cooperative and provided troopers with information, Burnett said.

“Saturday, we come out of here and seen a bunch of vultures up there,” Fred McCoy told CBS. “And, uh, what we’ve been looking for, if somebody’s dead, there will be the vultures follow the vultures. And, uh, there’s only about five or six and they were lighting on that tower up there. And, uh, we figured just a small animal where there was just so few of them. We come back, uh Sunday and Monday and, uh, more and more today there was about 50. "

Sheriff John Root said, “Now that this has been discovered, I hope our county can get back to normal,” Sheriff Ruud said.

He asked for prayers for Couch’s family as well as for the victims.

No one wished Couch to be found in the condition he was in, the sheriff said, noting that the goal was to capture Couch alive and have him stand trial.

“Time did help with this search,” he said, noting that the extended period of no rain and temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s actually helped in the search.

According to multiple reports on social media, YouTubers were watching the movement of the vultures as well.

During a live stream, the YouTubers were able to locate a body and contacted KSP immediately.

EARLIER REPORT:

Kentucky State Police troopers have located a body in the vicinity of where suspect Joseph Couch is accused of shooting five people Sept. 7 on Interstate 75 in Laurel County.

Trooper Scottie Pennington, KSP media relations, posted the update to social media Wednesday afternoon that said, in part, “detectives are working to confirm the identity.”

The discovery comes one day after the U.S. Marshal’s Service named Couch a fugitive.

Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear and KSP, along with local, state and federal partners, also announced plans to reallocate “boots-on-the-ground resources” out of Daniel Boone National Forest, where law enforcement already has searched 28,000 acres for Couch.

The community of Couch’s last known address has been searched as well, according to Beshear and KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr.

The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the shooting incident. KSP will continue to lead search efforts through aircraft as well as cameras that have been placed throughout the forest.

U.S. Marshal Jeremy Honaker has said Couch is considered a fugitive, and the federal fugitive task force will continue to provide resources to local and state agencies to aid in the apprehension of the individual.

KSP continues to encourage anyone with information on the whereabouts of Couch – described as being 5-foot-10 and weighing 154 pounds and who is considered armed and dangerous – to call any of the following law enforcement agencies. Any and all information will be investigated.

Laurel County Crime Stoppers is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to Couch’s arrest. Anonymous donors have provided additional funds for a total reward of $35,000.

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