Kentucky State Police believe they have located the body of Joseph Couch, the suspect in a September 7, 2024, shooting incident on Interstate 75 that left five people wounded. The body was discovered on Wednesday afternoon by a couple of YouTube live streamers, Fred and Sheila McCoy, in a wooded area near Exit 49 in Laurel County. The discovery comes after an 11-day manhunt that spread throughout the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Couch, 32, was identified as the shooter who opened fire on a dozen vehicles along I-75, wounding five people. According to authorities, Couch had sent a disturbing text message before the incident, stating that he planned to “kill a lot of people” and then “kill myself afterwards.”
The McCoys, who run the Hatfield McCoy Museum Adventures YouTube channel, were live-streaming their search when they came upon the body. The couple had been searching the woods for days, hoping to help authorities in the manhunt. Their efforts paid off when they spotted vultures circling and followed the smell of decomposition to the location of the body. “We saw the vultures and we knew we were close,” Fred McCoy said in a statement.
The body has not yet been positively identified, but state police believe it to be Couch’s due to “articles associated with the body,” including a weapon found at the scene. The body has been transported to the Frankfort Medical Examiner’s Office for a thorough examination and official identification.
Couch’s vehicle and an AR-15 rifle, believed to have been used in the shooting, were previously found in the same forested area. The weapon had been purchased just hours before Couch allegedly opened fire on drivers from a hidden vantage point along the interstate. Authorities have confirmed that Couch fired multiple rounds into passing vehicles, causing panic and chaos. One witness said, “It was like something out of a nightmare. Bullets were flying, and we had no idea where they were coming from.”
The search for Couch led law enforcement agencies through over 28,000 acres of the Daniel Boone National Forest. During the 11-day manhunt, schools in the area were closed, and businesses locked their doors out of fear that Couch might strike again. Thousands of tips flooded into the police from residents across Kentucky and neighboring states, but the break in the case only came when the McCoys made their discovery.
Laurel County Sheriff John Root expressed relief that the search had come to an end and thanked the public for their help.
While investigators believe Couch died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. According to initial reports, Couch had no prior criminal record but was described by those who knew him as “quiet and troubled.” His former partner told reporters that Couch had struggled with mental health issues in recent years but had refused to seek help.
The discovery of Couch’s body has brought a sense of closure to the Laurel County community, which had been on edge since the shooting. State police have announced that they will continue to investigate the case, focusing on Couch’s background and any potential warning signs that could have led to the tragic events of September 7.
For their efforts in locating the body, Fred and Sheila McCoy will receive a $25,000 reward offered by authorities. The couple has not yet commented on their reward but expressed relief that they were able to assist in bringing the case to a close.
