KEMPER COUNTY, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – The Kemper County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, and Search & Rescue K-9 unit “Search Dogs South,” has confirmed the recovery of the body of Steven Knight, a North Carolina resident who had been reported missing earlier this month.
The search operation, which took place this morning, followed the filing of a missing person’s report with the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. Knight’s vehicle was discovered on February 7, 2025, in Scooba, Mississippi. K-9 Venus was deployed and led officers on a track spanning approximately 6-7 miles, ultimately guiding them to the discovery of Knight’s body in a drainage ditch near a creek.
Initial investigation at the scene revealed that Knight had suffered a gunshot wound to the cranial area. A lever-action rifle was found positioned beneath him. The body was carefully extricated from the water and transported to an accessible road, where emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and the Kemper County Coroner were standing by.
The Kemper County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Knight’s death. The body will be sent to the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory for further examination and analysis.
“The Kemper County Sheriff’s Office is committed to providing updates as the investigation progresses,” the department said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Steven Knight during this difficult time.”
At this stage, authorities are continuing to work to determine the circumstances that led to Knight’s death. Further updates will be provided as the investigation unfolds.
