Police are now searching for a person of interest in the case of a dead body found with a gunshot wound to the head in a woods near Little York this week.
Michael Joseph Sanders is being sought by police for questioning. He hasn’t been seen since the body was recovered on Monday.
Sanders is a white male, 34 years of age, 5’-9” tall, 190 pounds, black hair and blue eyes.
Sanders lives at the address where a decomposed body was located this past Monday at 7707 East New Cut Road Accin Little York.
His social media page said he was a former employee of Jeff Boat in Jeffersonville, IN.
Sanders was last seen this past Monday, July 23rd, at around 3:00 pm, at the residence where he lives.
According to the Indiana State Police, Sanders is a person of interest because he lives at the residence and he has not been seen or heard from since the day the body was located. It is unknown where he could be.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Michael Joseph Sanders or sees Michael Joseph Sanders should dial 911. Anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police at 1-800-872-6743 or the Washington County Sheriff’s Department at 812-883-5999.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance from detectives from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg in searching for a missing person around the Little York area of Washington County.
As part of their search for Skyler Naugle, 35, from Washington County, officers visited 7707 East New Cut Road in Little York.
As officers began speaking with an occupant of the property they gained enough information to believe Naugle had been to the property before he went missing.
At this point they obtained permission to search the property from an owner and they also obtained a search warrant.
The located a body in the nearby woods but so far have been unable to confirm if it is the remains of Naugle.
The body was in such a state of decomposition, police were not able to make a positive identification or verify that the body was that of Naugle, who had been reported missing on July 21 and hadn’t been seen since the week before.
Michael Joseph Sanders was last seen this past Monday, July 23rd, at around 3:00 pm, at the residence where he lives.
He is a person of interest because he lives at the residence and he has not been seen or heard from since the day the body was located. It is unknown where he could be.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Michael Joseph Sanders or sees Michael Joseph Sanders should dial 911.
Earlier today, police conducted an autopsy on the body located in the woods at 7707 East New Cut Road in Little York.
The autopsy was unable to make a positive identification of the body. DNA and dental records will now be used in an attempt to positively identify the found body.
The autopsy did reveal the preliminary cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head.
Toxicology test results are pending.
It is unknown how long it will take to get a positive identification of the body.
With the findings of the autopsy this case has now been officially classified as a Murder Case.
Monday morning, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance from detectives from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg in searching for a missing person around the Little York area of Washington County.
As part of their search for Skyler Naugle, 35, from Washington County, officers visited 7707 East New Cut Road in Little York.
While searching the property officers located a body in a wooded area near the home. The body was not recognizable enough to prove an identity and an autopsy is planned for Wednesday in Washington County, to determine an identity and cause of death.
ISP Sgt. Jerry Googin said there is a good possibility that the found body is that of Naugle however until positive identification is made nothing can be determined.
Naugle was reported missing this past Saturday, July 21st by family members and was last seen on Monday July 16th in the early morning hours in the Little York area of Washington County.
The Washington County Coroner’s Office and Prosecutor’s Office are assisting in the investigation. The Pekin Town Marshall and Salem Police Department have also assisted.
