The body found Sunday (May 16) in a pond off Hwy. B in Hillsboro has been identified as Benjamin Gast, 21, the Hillsboro Police Department reported.
Gast, whose last known address was Moscow Mills, was last seen April 3 in Hillsboro, and he was reported missing April 15 to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, according to Hillsboro Police.
The Office of the Regional Medical Examiner contacted Hillsboro Police on Wednesday (May 19) to identify the body. Dental records were used to identify Gast, authorities reported.
The time, manner and cause of death remain under investigation, Hillsboro Police reported today (May 20).
Hillsboro Police got a call about the body at 6:12 p.m. May 16, after people who went to the pond on private property in the 4700 block of Hwy. B pond to fish and spotted the body, Police Capt. Darrick Curtis said.
Anyone with information is urged to call Hillsboro Police at 636-797-5229.