Official autopsy results in Dunklin County death could take six weeks

DUNKLIN COUNTY, Mo. -- Authorities are waiting for autopsy results before ruling a cause of death in the case of a body found in a drainage ditch south of Kennett.

According to Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder, it could take up to six weeks before the final autopsy results are in. The official ruling cannot be made until then. Preliminary results reported Monday indicated the man could have died of hypothermia.

Shortly before 9 a.m. on Friday a local farmer called in a report of a body lying half in the water in the Buffalo drainage ditch at the junction of Route Y and County Road 524.

There was no identification on the body. However, following an investigation, it was determined that the man was Michael Chandler, 52, of Senath, Mo.

The Dunklin County Sheriff's Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Senath Police Department, Malden Police Department and Dunklin County Major Case Squad continue to investigate the incident.