Joseph Couch Obituary, Death – The body discovered near the site of the Interstate 75 mass shooting has been officially identified. According to a statement from Governor Andy Beshear’s Office, the deceased individual has been identified as Joseph Couch through DNA analysis conducted on bone samples.
Couch is the primary suspect in the mass shooting that occurred on September 7, where five individuals were shot on I-75 in Laurel County. His remains were located near Exit 49 on Wednesday afternoon.
Initial attempts to identify Couch through a soft tissue DNA test yielded inconclusive results. Kentucky’s Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. William Ralston, explained that the extreme decomposition of the body affected the reliability of the soft tissue analysis. However, using DNA extracted from bone samples allowed for a definitive identification.
Dr. Ralston praised the collaborative efforts of the medical examiner’s office and the Kentucky State Police crime lab, acknowledging their diligence in securing a positive identification to help the commonwealth move forward from this tragic event.
The cause of death has been determined as a wound consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. However, the official autopsy report will not be finalized until toxicology results are completed. This case remains significant as it connects to the broader circumstances surrounding the mass shooting incident.