Body Discovered Near Kentucky I-75 Mass Shooting Location

On September 18, news emerged that a man and woman searching for alleged gunman Joseph Couch uncovered a body near the site of a mass shooting in southern Kentucky. The incident occurred on September 7, raising concerns and intensifying the ongoing search for Couch.

The couple, Fred and Sheila McCoy, spent six days looking for Couch, 32, and utilized circling vultures to help them locate the body, which they subsequently reported to authorities.

Kentucky State Police confirmed that human remains were found near Exit 49 along Interstate 75, located approximately eight miles north of London, Kentucky. The discovery happened around 4:18 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, and police are currently working to establish the identity of the remains.

Recent communications revealed that a woman, who shares a child with Couch, informed the police that he had reached out to her expressing violent intentions. He allegedly stated that he was “going to kill a lot of people” and planned to take his own life afterward.

On September 7, Couch was accused of wounding five individuals and damaging several vehicles using an AR-15 rifle, which he purchased earlier that day along with 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Eyewitness reports indicate that he fired between 20 and 30 rounds from a hillside vantage point overlooking the interstate.

Authorities successfully recovered the firearm used, along with most of the ammunition, as part of their investigation. The search for Couch involved law enforcement deploying tracking dogs, helicopters, and drones equipped with infrared technology. This extensive operation aimed to locate him following the disturbing shooting incident.

The remote area where the shootings took place has been described by local police as dense and jungle-like, posing significant challenges to search efforts. Additionally, following the shooting, Couch’s vehicle was located, but officials have yet to determine why the incident occurred.

Despite not having a prior criminal record, Couch has been charged with multiple counts: five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault. Investigators are still piecing together the reasons behind the shootings.

The McCoys livestreamed their search for Couch and the subsequent discovery of the body on YouTube. They indicated that they believed the remains belonged to Couch, primarily due to the presence of vultures circling overhead and a foul odor that grew stronger as they got closer to the site.

The unsettling footage revealed an unidentified body, whose gender remains unconfirmed, positioned along the back of a hollow. As they filmed, a voice off-camera instructed the couple to stop recording, effectively ending the video.

Authorities in the region previously announced a $35,000 reward for information that could lead to Couch’s arrest, which the McCoys intend to collect. The couple gained some notoriety when they operated the Hatfields and McCoys museum in Casey County, Kentucky, located roughly an hour east of the site of the shooting. They claim descent from the McCoy family and refer to themselves as “bounty hunters” in their recent YouTube content created during their search for Couch.

Fred McCoy comes from a law enforcement background, as he is a retired police officer. His experience, combined with their recent activities, has kept the couple closely connected to the search for Couch that has captivated the attention of the local community and beyond.

The ongoing investigation continues as authorities work to identify the remains and gather further details regarding the tragic events that have unfolded in this southern Kentucky community.