The dead body found in the eastern part of the county over the weekend has been identified. Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton said it was 35-year-old Joshua Bateman of Fairfax, Virginia.

 

His body was found on Paw Paw Plains Road on Sunday around 3:30 p.m. It was sent to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center for an autopsy.

 

“The autopsy showed no signs of trauma to the body,” Stockton said. “We’re still waiting on the toxicology report to come back.”

Roane County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Boduch said the body was found in a “blue tote-like container with a lid on it.” Boduch called that unusual.

 

With no signs of trauma, authorities are hoping the toxicology report can provide key information on what happened to Bateman.

“He could have died of a medical issue or a drug overdose,” Stockton said. “We’re hoping to find out more when we get the blood work back.”

 

Fairfax is in northern Virginia. Stockton said he wasn’t aware of any ties that Bateman had to Roane County or East Tennessee.

“We’re still checking that out to see if anybody locally or in Lenoir City or Knoxville had any contact with him,” Stockton said.