TYLER, Texas — Human remains that were found near FM 346 between Troup and Whitehouse last week have been identified as Jose Alejandro “Alex” Perez.
Perez, 44, was last seen around 9 p.m. on April 26, at the Towne Oaks Apartments in Tyler. Three days later, police found Perez's vehicle at the Autumn Glen Apartments off Hollytree Drive, just a couple of streets from where he was last seen.
The Smith County Sheriff's Office confirmed the remains as those of Perez after autopsy results from Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.
Tyler Police Department spokesperson Andy Erbaugh said detectives are seeking out surveillance footage or doorbell cameras that could help with the investigation. Those who know anything are urged to call Tyler police at 903-531-1000.
"Now will our detectives along with the sheriff's department will work in finding evidence that what how all that connects, and really hope that we there are people out there who might be able to help us out who saw something," Erbaugh said.
According to the SCSO, the remains were found in the 15400 block of FM 346 East on May 5. The body was located on an oil well service road about 100 yards off FM 346. Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said the remains were found in a ditch, which had been underwater.
When the remains were found, the sheriff's office said they were confident they would have leads to follow, which would ultimately lead to the identity of the suspect(s), the sheriff's office said. Smith said foul play is suspected due to the condition of the body.
"It was actually dropped at that location without a doubt in order to secrete the body from somebody finding it," Smith said. "It’s a convenient road for somebody to be driving by trying to dispose of a body to go down and to do that disposing of it."