Area authorities are asking for the public’s help.
According to a news release, on Monday, August 6, fire personnel and deputies from the Lafayette County Sheriff’s office were dispatched to investigate the report of suspicious activity in the area just south of I-70 and McDaniel Road in Bates City.
The calling party said they could see smoke and believed a vehicle was on fire. The fire was extinguished, and upon further investigation, a body was found inside the trunk of the vehicle. The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s office will be performing an autopsy to determine the cause of death and identification.
Authorities from several agencies are working together in the investigation and are asking for help to identify the body and find those responsible for transporting the body into Lafayette County and setting the vehicle on fire.
If you have any information concerning the case, you are urged to call the Lafayette County Sheriff’s office at (660) 259-3622 or anonymously call the sheriff’s office’s TIPS Hotline at (660) 259-6789.