Sheriff’s Department identifies man found dead near Cairo

The Hall County Sheriff's Department has identified James Powers as the man whose body was found on a minimum-maintenance road in a remote area of Hall County on Tuesday.

According to a press release from the Sheriff's Department, Powers, 59, of rural St. Paul was found near 90th Road on Loup River Road just after 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Loup River Road is a minimum-maintenance road often used as a shortcut between 90th and 80th roads. The location is near the Hall/Howard County line.

The press release also gave the following information:

Powers' body was discovered by two people who were driving in the area. He had been reported as a missing person to Howard County authorities Saturday.

Powers' vehicle was located in the area where his body was found. The vehicle was stuck in some mud.

No foul play is suspected. No weapons were found in the area and there was no visible trauma to the body, Chief Deputy Chris Rea said.

An autopsy is being done, and the Sheriff's Department expects to have the results within a week. A toxicology screen also will be done, as is common in an autopsy, Rea said.

Toxicology screens are designed to detect any alcohol or legal or illegal drugs in a person's system at the time of death.