Man's body found on river ramp in Poplar Bluff

Authorities continue to investigate the death of a Poplar Bluff, Missouri, man whose body was found submerged at the end of the boat ramp on the Black River early Wednesday morning.

The victim was identified as Salvador Ruiz Ramirez, a 48-year-old originally from Texas, according to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers.

An autopsy was to have been performed on Ramirez at 9 a.m. today by Dr. Russell Deidiker at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington, Missouri, Akers said.

"As the investigation continues, we are making lots of progress," said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs. " ... We have people of interest that we are trying to locate for questioning" about Ramirez's death.

The investigation into Ramirez's death began after a fisherman reported finding his body at 7:56 a.m., said Dobbs, who estimates Ramirez had been killed sometime late Tuesday night.

The fisherman, Dobbs said, was putting in his boat at the Dan River Access, off of Highway 53 in southern Butler County, when he found Ramirez.

"(Ramirez) was laying at the end of the boat ramp, submerged face down in the water," said Dobbs, who described the water as being about 1 foot deep.

"It was apparent the individual had been shot more than once," Dobbs said.

The Butler County/Poplar Bluff Major Case Squad subsequently was activated to investigate the death, Dobbs said.

Assisting the sheriff's department in the investigation are members of the Poplar Bluff Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and its dive team and the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Based on identification found on the body, as well as the verification of tattoos, officers were able to make a positive identification of the man as being Ramirez.

Once identification was made, Dobbs said, officers began to learn as much as they could about him and who his associates were.

"We, basically, started working backwards (to determine when) he had contact last with his friends and loved ones to figure out who he was last in contact with," Dobbs said.

About an hour after Ramirez's body was found, there was a report of a "burned-out vehicle" being found in southern Butler County, Dobbs said.

Officers are investigating the fire and "believe there may be some ties to the homicide," he said.

Members of the patrol's dive team arrived at about noon Wednesday, Dobbs said.

"They started looking for any clues or any evidence that had been discarded into the river," Dobbs said.

Further information about the investigation was not able press time.