POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. – The Butler County coroner has recently identified the body of a man discovered at an abandoned house in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The deceased individual has been confirmed as 40-year-old Michael Eugene Barnett, according to Butler County Coroner Jim Akers.

The investigation was initiated on Wednesday, November 22, after a homeless man was found inside an abandoned house located on N. Main Street, just behind JD’s Quick Stop. Barnett’s unfortunate fate came about when he fell through two stories of rotten flooring within the house and became trapped.

Initially, the Butler County Coroner’s Office and the Poplar Bluff Police Department faced challenges in identifying Barnett’s body. No identification or phone was found on the victim, and attempts to use fingerprint identification proved unsuccessful.

One distinguishing feature that aided in the identification process was a tattoo on Barnett’s right arm. However, local searches for matching arrest records associated with the tattoo yielded no results.

Exhaustive Efforts to Identify the Deceased

In their relentless pursuit to ascertain the man’s identity, authorities conducted a neighborhood canvas. While Barnett was recognized by some residents, he remained unidentified to those who encountered him. Further extensive searches and contacts with various sources also proved fruitless.

Ongoing Investigation

As of now, no additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding Barnett’s tragic demise has been disclosed. The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities are actively exploring every possible lead to shed light on this mysterious case.