Body found near scene of shooting on Kentucky highway: Suspect confirmed: Joseph Couch

Kentucky state officials confirmed Friday that the body discovered near the scene of the recent highway shooting is in fact that of suspected shooter Joseph Couch.

State authorities and a couple from the public discovered a body near the crime scene on Wednesday. They believed it was the suspect because other items were found with the body. Couch is believed to have injured five people in a shooting on September 7.

Kentucky Democratic Governor Andy Beshear said an autopsy confirmed the remains were Couch's, and Couch was identified “through DNA extracted from bones.”

“We thank everyone involved in the search and are grateful that no one else was injured,” Beshear said in the statement. “We will continue to be there for those injured and for the Laurel County community as it recovers from this tragic situation.”

Kentucky's chief medical examiner, William Ralston, said Couch's cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to NBC News. It's not clear when Couch allegedly committed suicide or how far from the crime scene he took his own life. But the body was in such a state of decomposition that the identity could not be confirmed by DNA analysis of the soft tissue.

“Due to the extreme decomposition of the body, DNA testing on soft tissue was inconclusive, but today we were able to make a positive identification using bones from the suspect,” Ralston said. “I would like to thank the Medical Examiner's Office and the KSP Crime Lab for their cooperation and diligence in obtaining a positive identification so that the state can move on from this tragic situation.”

Police officials have not yet been able to determine a motive for the shooting, and there does not appear to be a specific target. Confirmation of Couch's death also came after authorities launched a nationwide manhunt for the suspect that lasted nearly two weeks.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter at Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.