In a twist that blends modern social media with old-fashioned sleuthing, a pair of YouTubers inadvertently played a crucial role in locating the body of a suspected mass shooter in Kentucky. This unexpected development brings a dramatic close to a manhunt that had gripped the state for days.

On September 7, terror struck a remote stretch of I-75 in Laurel County, Kentucky, when a gunman opened fire on passing vehicles. The attack left five people seriously injured, with one victim sustaining a gunshot wound to the face. The seemingly random nature of the assault sent shockwaves through the community and sparked an intensive manhunt.

The suspect

Authorities quickly identified 32-year-old Joseph Couch as the prime suspect. An affidavit obtained by WHAS 11 revealed chilling details:

• Couch had purchased an AR-15 style rifle and 1,000 rounds of ammunition on the day of the attack.
• He had sent an ominous text message to a woman, stating: “I’m going to kill a lot of people. Well try at least.”

The challenging manhunt

Deputy Gilbert Acciardo of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office highlighted the difficulties faced by law enforcement:

“He couldn’t have picked an area that is any more remote and difficult for us to try and locate him,” Acciardo said, referring to the wooded, sparsely populated region where the shooting occurred.

Breakthrough in the case

On Wednesday afternoon, the week-long search came to a dramatic conclusion. At approximately 3:30 p.m., state troopers made a grim discovery in the Laurel County woodlands.

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. announced at a press conference:

“There were articles associated with the body, that at this time we feel is Joseph Couch. We’re very confident that this brings closure in the search for Joseph Couch.”

The unexpected heroes

In an unusual twist, the discovery was aided by an unlikely pair of civilian searchers:

Enter the McCoys

Fred and Shelia McCoy, a couple known for running a museum dedicated to the legendary Hatfield-McCoy feud, had taken it upon themselves to join the search effort. The couple, who also maintain a YouTube channel focused on the historical feud, decided to livestream their search through the wilderness.

Fred McCoy, as it turns out, is no stranger to law enforcement. He revealed to the New York Times that he is the retired police chief of Hustonville, a small Kentucky town.

The McCoys’ 30-minute live video captured the tense moments leading up to the discovery:

• The couple followed the path of vultures and a strong odor deeper into the woods.
• Shelia can be heard saying, “It has to be down in the hollow here.”
• Moments later, Fred exclaims, “Found him! Here he is! He’s deteriorated!”

The livestream briefly showed a grainy image of the decomposed body before cutting out.

Official recognition

Commissioner Burnett acknowledged the contribution of the McCoys in his press conference:

“I want to recognize the McCoys. They’ve been very cooperative with our troopers, and provided troopers with relevant information.”

While praising the efforts of various law enforcement agencies including the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the National Guard, Burnett also highlighted the unexpected assistance from the civilian couple.

The body will be transported to a lab in Frankfort for positive identification, according to Burnett. As this unusual case comes to a close, it serves as a reminder of the evolving landscape of public engagement in law enforcement matters, particularly in the age of social media and citizen journalism.