Body found on National Park Service property in Jefferson County

HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — Law enforcement officers were on the scene Friday after a body was found on National Park Service property near Chestnut Hill Road in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County Sheriff Pete Dougherty tells WEPM News it appears the body, which was found under a tree, had been there for a long period of time and that no foul play was suspected.

“The body just sort of lying underneath sort of a blow down tree,” he said Monday. “It almost looks like a place I might go if I was in heavy weather trying to get out of the elements.”

Dougherty said there were no obvious signs of trauma.

He right now there are no leads pointing to the identity of the deceased.

“We didn’t have any reports of missing persons in the area, so no. It’s a total mystery to us as to who this is, at this point, and how their body got there,” he said.

The medical examiner has removed the body from the property.

Dougherty said an investigation will follow.