After months of unfruitful investigation, the Callaway County Sheriff's Office is turning to the public for help identifying a body recovered from the Missouri River in May.
The body was pulled from the river near Tebbetts on May 28 with help from the Osage County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri Highway Patrol.
"At the time of recovery, the river was in major flood stage," Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism stated Monday. "As of Aug. 26, various forensic measures to identify the body have been unsuccessful. At the time of recovery, the body was in a state of rapid decomposition."
The Boone-Callaway Medical Examiner's office determined the body to be that of a man between the ages of 20 and 40, with a light complexion, weighing about 195 pounds and standing 5 feet 9 inches tall.
In May, Chism stated the cause of death could not be determined.
"A final determination is pending based on toxicology examination and further investigation," Chism said Monday.
Speaking to other law enforcement agencies about ongoing missing person investigations also proved a dead end.
Despite the advanced state of decay, one identifying feature remained clear: a tattoo on the right side of the man's chest. It's shaped like a modified capital D, flanked by the phrases "J Diddy" and "J Dawg." The tattoo measures approximately 3-4 inches by 3-4 inches, Chism said.
NamUs, a government database of unidentified remains and missing person records, also notes "cutting marks" on the body's left wrist.
"Given the investigation status at this time, this information is being publicly shared in attempt to identify the body," Chism said.
Anyone with potentially related information should call the Callaway County Sheriff's Office at 573-642-7291 or go online to callawaysheriff.org/crime-stoppers.