Hunter scouting Wappapello woods finds decomposed body

WAPPAPELLO — A hunter out scouting the woods near Wappapello Saturday morning found the body of a man authorities believe has been missing since mid-September.

At about 11 a.m., a Butler County man reported to Deputy James Allison he had found a “dead body in the woods off of County Road 517 in Wappapello, while scouting the woods for the upcoming deer season.”

Allison, according to his report, responded to the location, along with investigators Brandon Lowe, Eddie Holloway and Charles Phelps.

“Upon our arrival to the area, approximately four miles down County Road 517, all law enforcement officials and (the citizen) began walking into the woods for approximately three-tenths of a mile,” Allison said. “ … we located what appeared to be a severely decomposed male human body.”

The scene, Allison said, was turned over to the investigators.

An autopsy was being performed Monday morning by Dr. Russell Deidiker at Farmington.

Officials, Chief Deputy Wes Popp said, believe they know the man’s identity, but are waiting for confirmation upon completion of the autopsy.

Further details are not being released at this time.