Body from Washington County ditch identified

Jeannie Barton-Northrup, jnorthrup@dailyjournalonline.com

Investigators have announced the identity of the man found Monday in a ditch in Washington County as Jacob A. Barton of Park Hills.

The Potosi Police Department issued a press release Wednesday morning indicating an autopsy had been performed, but the cause of death was yet to be determined. Investigators say more details will be released as they become available.

Barton’s man’s body was found in a ditch in Washington County on Monday, according to Potosi Police Department, which is handling the investigation.

The department’s official Facebook page was updated at 3:48 p.m. on Tuesday to say the man had been identified and next-of-kin was being notified.

The police department released a statement on Tuesday morning stating police responded to a call about an unidentified man lying in a ditch near Highway 8 and Pearl Road. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered the man was dead.

Potosi Police Chief Mike Gum said the investigation is ongoing and is a joint effort with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and the Washington County Coroner’s Office.

People took to Facebook on Monday and Tuesday to speculate about what may have happened to the man and to ask about his identity. Speculation over a probable cause of death keeps people chatting, and hundreds of people are keeping track of related posts.

This story will be updated once more information is gathered.