LONDON, KY - On Wednesday afternoon September 18, 2024, an unidentified body was located in the vicinity of Exit 49 off 1-75 Wednesday afternoon. Law enforcement officials believe the recovered body (Identity is unconfirmed) is that of Joseph A. Couch, a recently declared fugitive by the U.S. Marshalls Service and a suspect the mass shooting that took place on Saturday, September 7, 2024 on I-75 near London, KY. A press briefing was announced and later held at the London Community Center at 8:30 P.M..
Could the search for Joseph A. Couch be over? At this point, we don't and won't know until the results from the state medical examiner is released and until then the investigation is still active and ongoing.
WARNING! BODY FOUND VIDEO MAY BE CONSIDERED GRAPHIC TO SOME
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office will continue to lead the 1-75 shooting investigation
An excerpt from the Laurel County Sheriff's Office update below on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 at 10:00 PM states that: A body has been located in the vicinity of Exit 49 off I-75 this afternoon. Investigators are working to identify it. More information will follow as it becomes available.
** The body being recovered is believed to be Joseph Couch. An autopsy will be conducted
in Frankfort to determine positive identification. Investigation is continuing.
Last Wednesday update from Trooper Scottie Pennington
Kentucky State Police Provide Update on Search for Suspect in I-75 Shooting
Unidentified body found believed to be suspect Joseph Couch
LONDON, Ky. (Sept. 18, 2024) — Tonight, the Kentucky State Police (KSP), along with local, state and federal partners, provided an update on the search for Joseph Couch, the suspect accused of shooting five people Sept. 7 on Interstate Highway 75 in Laurel County.
KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr announced that at approximately 3:30 p.m. today, troopers and two civilian individuals located a body in the deep brush behind exit 49 in Laurel County.
“We are very confident that tonight brings closure to the search for Joseph Couch. I want to thank all partners for their collaborative effort to bring this to a successful conclusion,” said Commissioner Burnett. “The people of Laurel County can rest much easier now that this manhunt has been concluded.”
Burnett advised that troopers had been searching in the area all day as they had noticed vultures in the air. They continued to try and locate the exact area where the vultures were circling and detected a heavy odor consistent with a decomposing body.
While moving through the thick terrain and trying to locate the smell, the troopers heard voices and immediately identified themselves as state police troopers and asked that the individuals identify themselves. The couple, Fred and Sheila McCoy, advised the troopers that they were also looking for Joseph Couch.
Almost immediately after that interaction, the troopers and the McCoys stumbled upon the unidentified body.
The body will be transported Thursday to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort. Personal artifacts and a weapon found with the body are consistent with the suspect.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office will continue to lead the 1-75 shooting investigation.
“I am very proud of the efforts and manpower used. All partners have gone above and beyond,” said Sheriff John Root. “Day one, my concern has been the residents of Laurel County and their safety. I hope our county can get back to what is normal.”
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The following is a link to video on KSP Public Affairs Post 11 Officer Trooper Scottie Pennington's Facebook page of the press briefing held at the London Community Center Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 at 8:30 P.M.. Watch the Press Briefing video HERE
BELOW: Wednesday evening Sept. 18th update Shooting Investigation: Posted to Facebook by the Laurel County Sheriff's Office at 9:57 PM
TEXT FROM THE ABOVE
September 8, 2024
Recovered vehicle
Photo dated August 2021
Name: Joseph A. Couch
DOB: 8/6/1992 Height: 5'10" Weight: 154
Joseph A. Couch is a person of interest in connection to a highway shooting that took place on September 7, 2024 on I-75 near London, KY. Couch's vehicle has been recov- ered off exit 49 near a US Forest Service Road. Law enforcement is actively searching in the area.
If you have information on the whereabouts of this person of interest, please call London/Laurel County 911 at 606-878-7000 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Do not approach. Considered ARMED and DANGEROUS.
A body has been located in the vicinity of Exit 49 off I-75 this afternoon. Investigators are working to identify it. More information will follow as it becomes available.
** The body being recovered is believed to be Joseph Couch. An autopsy will be conducted
in Frankfort to determine positive identification. Investigation is continuing.
Sheriff John Root
Sept. 18th, 2024
10:00 P.M.
