By By Lisa Tindell- news editor
An East Brewton family is awaiting the results of an autopsy to gain some closure in the death of a loved one this week.
Jerome Thomas, 49, of East Brewton, was reported missing Jan. 4. His body was discovered Thursday by a hunter in a wooded area in Conecuh County, according to officials in Evergreen.
Thomas' body was found near the airport near Evergreen, East Brewton Police Chief B.C. Cooper said.
Thomas's family filed a missing person's report with the East Brewton Police Department on Jan. 4.
His wife, Willodean Thomas, made a public appeal Tuesday to help locate her missing husband. The family's home is located on Gillis Street, the last place Thomas was seen by family or friends.
After Thomas' body was found, family members said they were upset that more was not done to help find him.
Flowers said the first time police went to the Thomas house after the family reported Thomas missing was the morning he died.
A missing persons report requires certain procedures be followed, Cooper said.
Several leads, including those from family members, were investigated by the East Brewton Police Department, Cooper said.
After all local leads were exhausted in the case, Thomas's disappearance was entered into the National Crime Information Center, Cooper said.
NCIC is a computerized index of criminal justice information that includes criminal record history information, fugitives, stolen properties and missing persons.
The arrested men told Evergreen Police they had dropped Thomas off at an undisclosed location and were given permission to drive the truck, Cooper said.
Final autopsy reports could take several days to complete, Cooper said.
Kerry Whipple Bean contributed to this report.