CLAY COUNTY — The body of a missing man was found by law enforcement Tuesday in the woods behind his residence off of Highway 46. Now, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death as a homicide.
Earvin Kirkwood Jr., 67, was reported missing by family members on Sunday after he had been missing for 24 hours, Sheriff Eddie Scott told The Dispatch Wednesday.
While Kirkwood had formerly been living in Choctaw County, he had been living in a trailer on property west of Mantee owned by his family for about three or four months, Scott said. Investigators found the body in the woods behind the residence when they swept the property Tuesday afternoon with a drone, Scott said.
Clay County Coroner Alvin Carter determined there were multiple apparent stab wounds from a knife on the body, Scott said, leading the sheriff’s office to investigate the case as a homicide and to send the body for an autopsy at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Pearl, Mississippi.
Scott said investigators were still working to gather evidence Wednesday, and his office is still looking for more witnesses in the case.
No arrests had been made Wednesday, he said, and he encouraged anyone with information pertinent to the case to come forward.
CCSO urges anyone with information on the burglary suspect to contact the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at (800) 530-7151 or the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
