Missing man found dead near Qulin

The search for a missing Doniphan, Missouri, man ended Wednesday afternoon when authorities recovered his body in a drainage ditch near where his truck and dog earlier were found.

An autopsy on the body of Jamie Ferrill, 40, was to be performed at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington, Missouri.

Ferrill's body was discovered at about 12:15 p.m. Wednesday by Butler County chief deputy Brian Evans about 400 yards from where his truck had been found, Sheriff Mark Dobbs said.

"At this time, after our examination, no signs of trauma due to foul play" were found on Ferrill's body, Butler County Coroner Jim Akers said.

Dobbs agreed.

"So far everything seems to be in step with an accidental drowning; however, the investigation is continuing," he said.

Deputies initially were called to the farm field near Qulin, Missouri, early April 3 when a farmer reported finding a gray Ford Ranger and a dog, which apparently had been tied but had broken loose. A boot also was found near the truck.

A subsequent check of the dog's identification tag reportedly was traced to Ferrill.

"It appeared someone had became stuck in the farm field and left the vehicle there," said Dobbs, who described the field road as running parallel to the drainage ditch, southeast of the Black River bridge near Qulin.

Mud reportedly was found on the steering wheel, gear shifter and radio in the truck.

"Later on Friday night, [Ferrill's] family contacted us," Dobbs said. "They had not received any phone calls or had any contact with Jamie Ferrill."

Family members also indicated it was "odd" Ferrill was not in the same place as his dog, as "he and the dog were inseparable," Dobbs said.

A search and recovery operation began early Saturday morning and continued on a daily basis, Dobbs said.

He estimated the water level in the nearby ditch exceeded 10 feet. But each day the level went down and as water cleared, Evans was able to spot Ferrill's body slightly below the surface about 6 feet from the bank.

During the search, Dobbs said, Ferrill's other boot was found in the water.

"It seems somewhat apparent he was most likely trying to wash his boots off and perhaps fell in," Dobbs said. "Given the swift current, steep banks, nighttime, it would be very difficult to get out of the ditch if you fell into it."