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Found body ID'd as Henderson
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| By: THERESE APEL, DAILY LEADER Staff Writer |
March 27, 2008 |
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The body of a man found on Thorn Trail last Wednesday has been positively identified as that of missing Brookhavenite Travis Henderson, officials said Wednesday.
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Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing said DNA samples were identified by Scales Biological Laboratory in Brandon as matching those of previously taken samples belonging to Henderson, 27, who went missing around January 7 of this year.
A cause of death has not been officially determined. A televised report Wednesday night said Henderson had died of a gunshot wound, but neither Rushing nor Lincoln County Coroner Clay McMorris would confirm that information.
"The cause of death is pending, and we're waiting on the official autopsy report to answer those questions definitely," said Rushing.
McMorris said the complete autopsy report should be received from the office of state medical examiner Dr. Steven Hayne in the next few days.
"He's the one who will determine the cause of death, so we will have that, but we just don't at this time," McMorris said.
He said the medical examiner is working with an anthropologist to reach the final conclusion on how Henderson died.
"We're waiting on the anthropologist's and Dr. Haynes' autopsy reports to come together to give us the cause," he said.
Rushing said at this time the autopsy report will also help determine whether Henderson's death is a homicide.
"This is now officially a death investigation, whereas it was a missing persons investigation until this point," Rushing said. "We're trying to run down leads, and we're still looking for any information on what might have happened."
Henderson disappeared January 7. The missing persons investigation was kicked into high gear when a Chevy Camaro that was found abandoned at the corner of Sunset Road and Bahalia Road was identified as the one Henderson had been driving.
Rushing reiterated that his department is always open to information from the public, no matter how big or how small the tip.
"Anyone with information, regardless of what it is, we need to hear from you," Rushing said. "Every little bit helps at this time."
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department at (601) 833-5231.
Tyler Funeral home will handle the arrangements, which are incomplete.
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©The Daily Leader 2009
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