Human remains discovered in Kentucky have been positively identified as the individual responsible for shooting 12 vehicles and injuring five people on Interstate 75 over a week ago, according to an announcement made by Governor Andy Beshear.
The remains were found by a retired couple who typically create YouTube videos about the Hatfield-McCoy feud. They described their unexpected turn into 'bounty hunters' during the search for the shooter.
Due to the advanced state of decomposition of the body, initial identification of the deceased, Joseph Couch, was challenging. Personal belongings and weapons found near the body suggested it was Couch, but a soft tissue DNA test was inconclusive. The Kentucky Chief Medical Examiner confirmed the identity using bone samples, with the cause of death determined to be a gunshot wound to the head.
The shooting incident prompted an extensive search in a rugged area of southeastern Kentucky near London, resulting in the closure of several school districts and heightened safety measures by residents. Governor Beshear expressed gratitude for the search efforts and emphasized the importance of supporting the injured individuals and the local community as they recover from the tragic events.
