NEWPORT-The body of a man found by a fisherman Thursday morning off Interstate 40 near the Wilton Springs Exit has been identified.

 

      James Joseph Shults, 40, Cosby, was discovered near a stretch of the Pigeon River popular with fisherman shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday morning. Shults' body was in the passenger seat of a parked, black Lexus car, which was displaying a license plate reported stolen from Pigeon Forge.

 

      The Cocke County Sheriff's Department and the TBI were on scene after the discovery was reported. Detective Derrick Woods said the cause of death has yet to be determined and that an autopsy would be performed at UT Medical Center. When asked how long the body had been in the area, Woods said it had yet to be determined, however, he did note that the man was found in a highly trafficked area used by fisherman.