Update:
Lamar County Coroner Cody Creel identified the body as 54-year-old Thomas Burns, who was reported missing on Monday. Family members were searching the home on Purvis-Oloh Road on Tuesday when they found the body in the freezer. Sheriff Danny Rigel says that no murder charges have been filed, but three people have been arrested in connection with a theft from the home.
35-year-old Samantha Simmons has been charged with grand larceny, while 51-year-old Andy Hartfield & 23-year-old Will Bryson have been charged with receiving stolen property.
Sheriff Rigel says that everyone is still a suspect in the murder investigation, and more arrests are expected.
Original Report:
A body has been found in a freezer inside of a Lamar County home.
Officers with the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene on Purvis-Oloh Road on Tuesday after Sheriff Danny Rigel stated that they received a call from family members of the victim who found the body in the freezer.
The body has since been identified by Lamar County Coroner Cody Creel as 54-year-old Thomas Burns, whose family reported him missing on Monday. Police say that the family returned on Tuesday and found the body while searching for any information regarding his disappearance.
Creel went on to say that an autopsy will be performed, but it may take longer than normal because the body needs to be thawed out.
Two individuals are in custody and are being described as “persons of interest”.
Sheriff Rigel noted that the investigation into this case is ongoing.
