Body identified by DNA

A decomposed body found in Marshall County in early November near the Tennessee state line has been positively identified.

Maj. Kelly McMillen, investigator with the sheriff’s department, said the homicide victim is Kenneth Hadden, 61, of the Byhalia area.

Local authorities received assistance from the Mississippi Crime Lab and Scales Biological Laboratory in Brandon to identify the remains.

“They had to pull teeth to get DNA out of his gums,” McMillen said.

Hadden was reported missing September 10.

“He was working at Amazon as a maintenance employee and left work and never returned to work,” McMillen said.

On October 7, Hadden’s truck was found on Faxon Avenue in Memphis, Tenn.

“We were able to obtain information from the back of the truck that was tied to a possible suspect,” McMillen said.

On November 4, the body was found in the 8000 block of Highway 72 by a store employee who smelled a foul odor in the area.

Authorities were notified and the investigation began. The corpse, found inside a tent in about 4 inches of water, had a plastic bag over the head with a rope tied around the bag at the neck, according to McMillen. The hands were tied behind the back and attached to the belt loop.

No one has been charged with the crime, but a possible suspect is in custody in Florida on federal charges, he said.

“The authorities there have been notified of our investigation,” McMillen said. “We may be going there later this week to interview the person of interest.”