Death investigation underway

Members of the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department were joined by members of the SEMO Major Case Squad to investigate a suspicious death after a man's body was discovered in a ditch in rural New Madrid County at about 11:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 14, 2022.

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

NEW MADRID, Mo. — An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday on the body of a Jefferson City, Mo., man who was found dead in a ditch in rural New Madrid County.

The body of Jonathan Ray Scarber, 36, was discovered Monday morning in a drainage ditch approximately 100 yards from County Road 707 at Farrenburg, Missouri.

According to New Madrid County Sheriff Bud Cooper, his department received a call at 10:53 a.m. Monday from a rural New Madrid County resident who discovered the body. Cooper said the man’s body was lying face down in approximately a foot of water.

Assisting the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation are members of the New Madrid Police Department, Missouri Highway Patrol, Sikeston Department of Public Safety and Scott County Sheriff’s Department along with New Madrid County Coroner George DeLisle.