Officials with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office said a farmer called them at 9:30 a.m., after finding a body on his land in the 9000 block of Smalley Road, about five miles west of Sidney.
"(He) was combining his corn field," Deputy Chief James Frye said. He said the clothing on the dead body matched that of Cole's.
Agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations assisted deputies at the scene.
Meanwhile, his suspected killer remains in Shelby County Jail facing one charge of aggravated murder.
Michael J. Wood, 39, of Sidney, was arrested Oct. 31 after a citizen's tip. According to deputies, Wood and Cole were neighbors.
Shelby County Prosecutor Tim Sell said his office will pursue the death penalty.
"We believe that there is motive," Sell said without elaborating. "The death appears to have been caused by a bullet wound."
A judge agreed to hold him without bond at a hearing on Nov. 1, labeling him a flight risk. At the time, Cole's body had not been found and there was no murder weapon or DNA evidence linking Wood to him.
After Cole's family identified him, his body was taken to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.
"I'm glad it's over for the family," Frye said. "We're glad that we can get some closure there."
Wood's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 11 in Sidney.
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