FRANKFORT, Ky. – A body discovered in rural southeastern Kentucky is believed to belong to Joseph Couch, the suspect in a shooting incident that left five people injured on Interstate 75. This announcement was made by Kentucky State Police on Wednesday night, concluding an intense, nearly two-week search mission.
Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. confirmed that the body found indicated a strong connection to Couch, a resident of Woodbine. The tragic discovery offers hope for peace in the community, which has been on high alert since the alarming September 7 shooting incident that involved the firing of 20 to 30 rounds and impacted over a dozen vehicles.
Laurel County Sheriff John Root commented on the fear that gripped local residents, stating, “People have been in fear… I hope that our county can get back to what’s normal.” Authorities indicated that accessories found near the body, along with a firearm located at the site, played a role in identifying Couch. The cause of death has yet to be determined and will be established through an autopsy.
“This brings closure to the search for Joseph Couch,” Burnett stated, although Sheriff Root expressed regret over the outcome, wishing instead for Couch to have faced justice alive.
The body was located after teams combed a rugged 28,000 acres of the area, with the search intensified by the involvement of private individuals who received a $25,000 reward. A couple reported tracking vultures and a foul odor, which ultimately led them to the discovery of the body.
In the aftermath of the highway shooting, local schools transitioned to virtual learning for several days, with heightened police presence now reinstated as normalcy returns to the county. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear condemned the violent act, referring to the shooter as “evil.”
Investigators revealed that Couch had sent alarming messages prior to the shooting, indicating intent to harm, and that he obtained an AR-15 and a substantial amount of ammunition just hours before the attack. Authorities also found Couch’s abandoned vehicle and a firearm believed to be linked to the shooting in the nearby vicinity.
Couch, who served in the Army Reserve from 2013 until 2019 without deployment, prompted a comprehensive search involving helicopters and drones, with law enforcement focused on densely wooded areas. As authorities work to calm community fears, they continue to express sympathy for the shooting victims and Couch’s family, emphasizing that they should not be held responsible for his actions.
