The man found killed at the bottom of an old sand mine on the city’s far southwest side has been identified as Nathan Marshall, 31, who had been living in a residence not far from the site where he was found dead.
Marshall’s aunt, who asked officials to use a Whiting address as his residence, confirmed his identity at the Lake County coroner’s office in Crown Point Thursday morning, a spokesman said. An autopsy will be completed on Friday. Investigators say they believe Marshall is a homicide victim and await details on how he was killed.
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His body was found wrapped in carpet at the bottom of the J-Pit late Wednesday afternoon by a neighborhood boy who was riding his ATV in the long-vacant sand mine. Sgt. Thomas Decanter said the boy thought it was a deer wrapped up and summoned his father to the scene, who realized it was the body of a man.
Police say family members last saw Marshall on Christmas Day and reported him missing to Gary police on Jan. 23 after his aunt went to check on him. He had been living in the 3000 block of Gerry Street in Black Oak, just about a mile from the site where his body was found. The missing person’s report states there were signs of a possible struggle inside the house.
Detective George Dickerson, who was handling the missing person case, and Lake County Detective Edward Jenkins, who is assigned to Gary’s Violent Crimes Unit, are leading the investigation into the homicide.
Anyone with information about Marshall can call them at (219) 881-1210.