(Updated 9/21/2012 3:30 PM) -- The Elkhart County Sheriff's Department has updated the case involving a body found in a barrel steps from the St. Joe River. The victim is identified as 44-year-old Mark Allen Miller, and the cause of death has been ruled a homicide.
The following is a release from the ECSD:
Elkhart County Sheriff's Department Detectives and the Elkhart County Coroner's office are continuing their investigation into the body that was recovered from the St. Joseph River last night near the Six Span Bridge in Elkhart. At approximately 12:30pm today, an autopsy was performed on the body, and the cause of death was ruled as a Homicide. The individual's identity, which was presumptively acquired by looking at tattoos on his body, was found to be 44 year old Mark Allen Miller who had previously been reported as missing. Further tests to confirm his identity will be made through the use of fingerprints and/or dental records. The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information to release at this time.
The Elkhart County Sheriff's Department is investigating a death near CR 17 and SR 120 where a body was discovered.
The body is that of Mark Miller, according to his family and now the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department.
Members of Miller's family gathered at the scene Thursday. Miller has been missing for a couple weeks now. He owns a Tattoo Shop in Dunlap. Captain James Bradberry with the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department says people clearing debris from the St. Joe River near Six Span Bridge discovered the body in a 55-gallon drum Thursday. The barrel was found about 10 feet from the waters edge.
Police are not speculating on how the body wound up in the barrel, but they are calling the situation "alarming."
Neighbors told FOX28 they were shocked by the discovery and had never heard of anything like this happening in the area.
Boat traffic was not stopped on the river but Bradberry says a Department of Natural Resources boat was on the river as a precaution to keep other boats away from the scene.
We'll continue to bring you updates as they become available here at FOX28.com and on the FOX28 Morning Show.
