Officials have identified the person found dead in the Pearl River on Tuesday night.
According to Jackson Police Department Public Information Officer Tommie Brown, 42-year-old Jay Lee Barber was discovered in the river near South State Street and Gallatin Street. A fisherman told JPD that he noticed the body floating near the stack, which is located at the Interstate 20 and Highway 49 exit.
Barber was reported missing out of Jackson on Friday, April 5. His next of kin have been notified about his death.
This is the second time in three weeks that a person reported missing was found by fishermen in the same body of water. Missing Jackson man Dau Mabil was discovered nearly 60 miles away from the capital city in Lawrence County on April 13. Mabil’s body was also spotted along the Pearl River. A cause of death for Mabil has yet to be determined as law enforcement continue to assess his sudden disappearance.
Anyone with additional information linked to Barber’s disappearance is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (601)355-8477 or JPD at (601)960-1234.
