A man was found dead along a road near Rhome Tuesday morning, prompting the Wise County Sheriff's Office and Texas Rangers to open a homicide investigation. A passerby discovered the body alongside Hickory Street, just east of Rhome city limits and west of Strawberry Lane, and called it in around 6:30 a.m.
Body Discovered Before Dawn
According to the Wise County Messenger, the sheriff's office confirmed the victim was an adult man but had not released his identity or a cause of death, citing the ongoing investigation. The location is on a stretch of county road between Rhome and Strawberry Lane.
Officials have been tight-lipped about the circumstances beyond confirming that something was clearly off about the man's death. WCSO Chief Deputy Eric Debus said it was apparent that the death was not the result of natural causes, per the same report, though investigators have not detailed what evidence led them to that conclusion.
State Investigators Called In
State Investigators Called In Texas Rangers joined WCSO investigators at the scene Tuesday, as noted by Wise County Messenger, a sign that local authorities are treating the death as a significant criminal matter requiring state-level resources. The Rangers' involvement, a unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety, as reported by Texas Department of Public Safety, typically brought in for serious or complex cases, underscores how seriously investigators are approaching the discovery.
A homicide investigation was underway after a body was found near Rhome. As of the sheriff's office's latest statement, no further details on the victim, the cause of death, or any possible suspects have been made public, and investigators have not said when more information might be released.
