LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky State Police believe the body found Wednesday in Laurel County where five people were injured in a shooting on Interstate 75 is of the suspected gunman Joseph Couch.
Couch was accused on Sept. 7 of opening fire on drivers. The 32-year-old was the suspected gunman and investigators focused their search in a rugged, wooded area near London, a city of about 8,000 people roughly 75 miles south of Lexington.
“We are very confident that tonight brings closure to the search for Joseph Couch. I want to thank all partners for their collaborative effort to bring this to a successful conclusion,” KSP Col. Phillip Burnett, Jr. said. “The people of Laurel County can rest much easier now that this manhunt has been concluded.”
KSP Trooper Scottie Pennington said earlier Wednesday that detectives were working to identify the body, which was found near Exit 49 11 days after the shooting. That exit from I-75 is KY 909, northwest of London and East Bernstadt.
A rapid DNA testing was then conducted.
The body will still be taken to the coroner in Frankfort for official testing, but articles found on the body and a weapon were linked to Couch, police said.
"At this time, we still have troopers and personnel out there processing the scene," Burnett said. "There were articles associated with the body that at this time we feel is Joseph Couch."
Police had urged area residents to be vigilant and look out for their neighbors as searchers try to track down the suspect. The area where Couch was presumed to be hiding had cliff beds, sinkholes, caves and dense brush.
A Kentucky YouTube account streamed video of two people tracking vultures and coming across a body Wednesday afternoon. The streamers are Fred and Sheila McCoy.
Troops said they heard voices and identified themselves when moving through the thick terrain. Fred and Sheila said they stumbled upon the body.
Police confirmed the body they found was of who they believe to be Couch. Fred and Sheila will also receive at least a $25,000 award for finding the body, officials said.
The day after the shooting, law enforcement officers searched an area near where Couch’s vehicle was found, with a view of I-75. There, they found an Army-style duffel bag, ammunition and spent shell casings, authorities said in an arrest warrant affidavit.
A short distance away, they found an AR-15 rifle with a sight mounted to the weapon and several additional magazines. The duffel bag had "Couch" handwritten in black marker. Couch fired 20 to 30 rounds in the attack, investigators said.
Shortly before the shooting, Couch wrote in a text message: "I’m going to kill a lot of people. Well try at least." In a separate text message, Couch wrote, "I’ll kill myself afterwards." The messages were revealed in the affidavit.
“I am very proud of the efforts and manpower used. All partners have gone above and beyond,” said Sheriff John Root. “Day one, my concern has been the residents of Laurel County and their safety. I hope our county can get back to what is normal.”
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Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All Rights Reserved.
