PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) — Neshoba County deputies recovered the body of a man who had been missing for weeks on a family farm near Sandtown Wednesday evening, Sheriff Eric Clark said.
Around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, family members found Joe Wayne Whittle’s red Honda motorcycle in an overgrown section of the property. The 59-year-old’s bike was hidden at the southwest corner of Road 610 and Road 743, Clark said. Crews had cleared the area years earlier, but since then, it had grown thick, leaving only cattle trails through the ravine.
Deputies Confirm Identity
Notably, a Neshoba County deputy sheriff was among the family members who found the bike. As a result, the deputy immediately called Neshoba County Medical Examiner Myron Williams to the scene. Soon after, Williams and sheriff’s deputies located Whittle’s body nearby and confirmed his identity using identification they found in his pants pocket, Clark said.
In a phone interview Thursday afternoon with Queen City Newsfeed, Clark said investigators believe Whittle suffered a medical episode while riding his bike through tall weeds on the property. Overall, Clark said, the evidence points away from foul play.
According to Clark, someone last saw Whittle riding his bike in the area between July 3 and July 6. His family reported him missing on July 26.
Community Searched for Weeks
In the weeks that followed, Whittle’s disappearance prompted deputies and volunteers to search the Spring Creek and Sandtown communities, going door to door for leads. Ultimately, Clark said, that effort showed just how well the community knew and cared for Whittle.
“The Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office is grateful for the tireless efforts of Mr. Whittle’s family, friends, volunteers, and members of the community who assisted in the search over the past several weeks,” Clark said in a statement. “As deputies and volunteers went door to door throughout the Spring Creek and Sandtown communities, it became evident that Mr. Whittle was well-known and had many friends.”
Finally, Clark asked the community to keep the Whittle family in their thoughts as they mourn.
“We ask that everyone keep the Whittle family in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve the loss of their loved one,” Clark said.
