Man found dead in septic tank

InfoSource: WHIO-TV

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio -- Authorities say a that a man found dead in a septic tank with a plastic bag over his head had been shot several times.

On Tuesday, the Knox County coroner's office identified the body as that of Raymond Staats of Canton.

Multiple media outlets reported that Staats had a long criminal history and was facing charges, including assault and meanacing, when he disappeared in January 2009 at 41 years of age.

The coroner said that Staats died after multiple gunshot wounds to his neck and torso as well as a damage to his spinal cord.

Having been in the septic tank for a long period of time, the coroner said the body was severely decomposed.