ALERT - Remains believed to be man wanted for I-75 shooting

The body found earlier Wednesday by a couple live-streaming their search of the woods has been preliminarily identified as that of Joseph Couch. Unnamed items at the scene with the body has led law enforcement to believe it was Couch they had found. 

A manhunt that lasted since Saturday, Sept. 7 when Couch is believed to have fired shots at passing motorists along I-75, is over. Just earlier this week, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Kentucky State Police were scaling back their search of the vast Daniel Boone National Forest where Couch was believed to be. 

The area the remains were found is near Exit 49 where the shots occurred. 

Initial reports from KSP Trooper Scottie Pennington indicated KSP had found the body, but they were joined by YouTube content creators Fred and Sheila McCoy, who troopers came across during their search. The troopers and McCoys were reportedly tracking vultures in the sky circling the area. When they approached, the moment was captured on video as they were live-streaming their search efforts when they found the remains. They were live-streaming on their YouTube channel “Hatfield and McCoy Museum Adventures.”

It was said in a press conference Wednesday evening the couple will be entitled to a monetary reward that was announced for finding Couch. 

Officials did confirm a firearm was found with the body but no cause of death has been determined. No other identifying information was available as the official stated the scene was still being processed. The body will be taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for a positive identification and cause of death. 

Earlier it was announced that a rapid DNA test would be used to ascertain the identity of the remains. 

This is a developing story.

Livestream of the press conference Wednesday evening:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1NKCnLUEEsycnmzZ/?mibextid=WC7FNe

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Original story:

Kentucky State Police are reporting the discovery of a body in the vicinity of Exit 49 in Laurel County, the same area where nearly two weeks ago a gunman shot at vehicles traveling along the interstate, injuring nine people.

The discovery was made public by Youtubers Fred and Sheila, "Hatfield McCoy Museum Adventures" as they were live and tracking buzzards in the area where the body was discovered. They had been in the area for several days in search of Couch.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon, September 18, KSP Trooper Scottie Pennington posted to social media, “Kentucky State Police troopers have located a body in the vicinity of exit 49 in Laurel County and detectives are working to confirm the identity.” The claim of KSP finding the body has been disputed on social media.

The gunman, believed to be Joseph Couch of Woodbine, has been on the run since the incident on Saturday, September 7. Out of an abundance of caution, many local school systems canceled classes and suspended athletic events for the week as law enforcement and others searched the vast Daniel Boone National Forest for Couch. That search was trimmed back earlier this week as Gov. Andy Beshear announced the efforts to search for Couch were being scaled back.

Rapid DNA testing is being conducted to positively identify the individual and announcement is forthcoming. 

Details and a confirmed identity are pending. This is a developing story.

Information contacted in this article is a compilation of information from Kentucky State Police, Knox County Sheriff's Office, and the Hatfield McCoy Museum Adventures Youtube channel.