MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A Friday morning autopsy confirmed what investigators had already suspected -- that a Bollinger County man died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head and that the shot was fired by someone else.

Bollinger County Sheriff Leo McElrath said Friday night that autopsy results on the body of Jeffery Scott Robins, 35, who was found dead in his rural Bollinger County home Thursday, confirmed Robins' manner of death and that it was a homicide.

McElrath said he wouldn't release the caliber of gun that was used because keeping that information secret might be needed to aid the investigation.

Robins was found dead in his rural Bollinger County home in the area known as Bessville on Thursday by his children.

The death is being investigated as a homicide by the Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad.

Robins was the owner of HJR Towing and Recovery in Marble Hill.

McElrath said there was "a long list" of people who authorities were exploring as potential suspects or people of interest in the case, but that none yet had developed as a solid suspect.

Robins was in the business of salvaging and rebuilding wrecks but also did some car repossessions in his line of work. That work, McElrath said, could have made him many enemies.

"He was acquainted with quite a few people that would possibly do him harm," McElrath said Friday night.

Family members were notified of Robins' death Thursday, Bollinger County Coroner Charles Hutchings said Thursday night.

Authorities were notified of the death at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, McElrath said Thursday.

The children are staying with family members, McElrath said.

McElrath said Thursday he did not know the whereabouts of the children's mother or if Robins was still married.

The Major Case Squad is made up of the Cape Girardeau and Jackson police departments, the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department and the Southeast Missouri State University police. McElrath estimated more than 15 officers were investigating the death during the overnight hours Thursday.

Banner Press editor Linda Redeffer contributed to this report.

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Pertinent address:

Bollinger County, MO