Dead Body is Found Here by I-10 Motorist

A motorist on Interstate 10 discovered a dead body in a ditch near Engle on Sunday, Aug. 14. Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek reported that the deceased individual is believed to be a Mexican national. Texas Ranger Brent Barina is assisting with the investigation. The Sheriff’s Office said there were no obvious signs of foul play. Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Charles Zapalac ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, a motorist on Interstate 10 called 911 around 7:09 a.m. on Sunday to report the body. Lt. David Beyer of the Sheriff’s Office said the motorist had stopped at the Engle exit to take a break when she discovered the body.

“She saw some buzzards in the trees and was about to take a picture of them when she looked at the ground and saw a foot sticking out of the grass,” Beyer said.

The body was located on the south side of Interstate 10 near the spot where TxDOT stores piles of road material.

Beyer said investigators located a wallet and a Mexico ID card on the man’s body. Beyer said investigators would not identify the man until they can confirm whether the body matches the wallet and ID. He said decomposition of the body made it impossible for investigators to determine whether the ID matched. Beyer said investigators had no idea how long the man had been deceased. He said investigators have not ruled out homicide, but there were no obvious signs of foul play.

“As of right now, the body was in a condition that made it difficult to tell, but there were no obvious signs to us that it was foul play,” said Lt. David Beyer of the Sheriff’s Office. “We won’t know for sure until the medical examiner conducts the autopsy.”

Beyer said the body was sent to the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office on Sunday after the discovery. He said the medical examiner’s office was unusually busy and had scheduled the autopsy for this Wednesday. The results were not available in time for this publication.