Skeletonized remains identified in Waveland

Hancock County Coroner Jim Faulk has identified the skeletonized body found in Waveland’s Shoreline Park community on Monday.

Faulk said the body was that of Jeremy Fountain, 35, of Bay St. Louis. Fountain had been missing about a week before his remains were found in a secluded area on Chesapeake Street.

Faulk was able to identify him through dental records.

“I had a forensic odontologist confirm it,” he said.

Fountain’s body was sent to Jackson for an autopsy Tuesday. Faulk said the medical examiners will likely begin the autopsy on Wednesday.

Little of the body remained beyond the skeleton.

“The head has been skeletonized and so has most of the body,” Faulk said. “It’s been out there approximately five or six days, I think.”

It only takes about 10 days for a body to become a skeleton in South Mississippi, he said.

It remains unclear how the body was found in an obscure area of Waveland — not completely off the beaten path but also poorly traveled.

Waveland Police Chief David Allen said they are working the investigation.

Waveland and other law enforcement agencies were on the scene Monday afternoon but have since left.

Faulk declined to say whether there were any signs of trauma on the body.

This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Skeletonized remains identified in Waveland."