The couple who found the body of the man who shot five people on I-75 earlier this month has received the first installment of a $35,000 reward.
On Tuesday, Fred and Sheila McCoy, of Casey County, were presented with a $10,000 check from WB Transport by London Mayor Randall Weddle and Kentucky State Police Post 11 Public Affairs Officer Scottie Pennington.
“This is the first of several checks they will receive as part of the $35,000 reward for locating the body of Joseph Couch, the active shooter in the recent Laurel County incident,” Weddle’s office said in a social media post. “Their brave actions were instrumental in bringing closure to this tragic event, and we are deeply thankful for their assistance. A special thanks to WB Transport for their generous contribution to the reward fund.”
The McCoys livestreamed their search on YouTube for the 32-year-old Couch for several days before finding the decomposing body on Wednesday afternoon, 15 days after Couch shot into 12 vehicles, striking five. The McCoys found the body “in deep brush behind Exit 49,” Kentucky State Police said, not far from where the shooting took place.
The McCoys told news outlets that circling buzzards led them to where Couch’s body was found. As they neared where the buzzards were circling, the couple began to smell an odor before stumbling onto Couch’s body.
“We are very confident that tonight brings closure to the search for Joseph Couch. I want to thank all partners for their collaborative effort to bring this to a successful conclusion,” Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett said at the time. “The people of Laurel County can rest much easier now that this manhunt has been concluded.”
The McCoys, who owned the now closed Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Casey County, operate a YouTube channel where they discuss the famous feuding families.
(Photo l-r: London Mayor Randall Weddle, Sheila McCoy, Fred McCoy, KSP Trooper Scottie Pennington)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
