CHAMBERS COUNTY, Texas — An oilfield worker in Chambers County found a man's body on Saturday morning south of Stowell according to investigators.
Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne told 12News the man has been identified as 35-year-old Joshua Nicholas Branch of Galveston.
Deputies with the Chambers County Sheriff's Office were called to a location just off of Fairview Road west of Highway 124 according to Sheriff Brain Hawthorne.
Captain John Miller with the sheriff's office said no identification was found with the body.
Investigators are still looking into what caused his death.
Branch had been reported missing to Galveston Police on October 30 by his father according to Hawthorne.
He was last seen on October 23.
A forensic autopsy has been ordered, and is set for Monday according to Sheriff Hawthorne.
Hawthorne told 12News the investigation is being treated as involving foul play at this point.
If you have any information about the case please, you're asked to contact the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office at 409-267-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 281-842-5521.
*Editor's Note: This photo from Branch's driver license was released by the Chambers County Sheriff's Office
From a Chambers County Sheriff's Office Facebook post:
Sheriff Brian Hawthorne reports that on Saturday morning (11/02/19) an oilfield worker discovered a deceased male at an oil well location just off of Fairview Road south of Stowell. Deputies responded, securing the location for Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division.
Captain John Miller advised that the deceased male is caucasian and appears to be in his early 30’s, wearing a shorts and tennis shoes. There is no identification or other items with the body, so at this time investigators do not know his identity or what caused his death. Chambers County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Yale Devillier, has ordered a forensic autopsy to assist in determining cause of death and detectives are working on identifying the body.
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