The body of a 69-year-old Louisiana therapist wrapped in a tarp was found by a passerby on the side of a highway in Tangipahoa Parish on Sunday morning.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office (TPSO) announced that therapist Dr. William Nicholas Abraham died from a “violent attack” and had evidence of blunt force trauma to his neck, head and shoulders, WAFB reported. Announced. reported.

“It was a very physical, very violent attack,” Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Stecker said. “He had been hit in the head, shoulders and neck. There were a lot of bruises. What happened?” (Related article: Mother says she has solved her daughter's murder after police refused to believe her and ruled it a suicide)

TPSO announced on social media that it is seeking the public's help in identifying Dr. Abraham as a “person of interest in the homicide investigation.” The agency posted a photo of the person and said,[d]Detectives believe the person seen in these store surveillance photos is the last person known to have been driving the victim's vehicle.

Update: Key person sought in Tangipahoa murder investigation pic.twitter.com/aeXVYkXNIC

— Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office (@TPSOSheriff) October 1, 2024

“At the time, the driver of the vehicle fled the traffic at a high rate of speed, ultimately crashing the vehicle and fleeing the scene,” TPSO said in a press release.

“[A]The public has not come forward with any information that would help us figure out what happened Saturday night before he was ultimately killed, but we believe it happened Saturday night. ''Sticker said. Investigators believe the victim was killed elsewhere and his body dumped on the highway.

“he [Dr. Abraham] “He was a kind, loving, gentle man, and quite frankly, not the kind of man for something like this to happen to him,” said Jarrett Ambaugh, who knew the victim. He added: “I am absolutely shocked and completely amazed that this happened to a man I believed to be so kind, gentle and dedicated.”