The body of a veteran Bledsoe County sheriff's detective was discovered in a field about four miles north of Pikeville on Tuesday morning.
The case was being considered a homicide.
Authorities said the body was that of Ricky Seals, who had been with the sheriff's office for over 35 years. He was 55 and was also a firefighter.
A number of TBI agents were at the scene along with other members of law enforcement.
The body was on a dirt road in the field between Highway 127 and Old Tennessee Road. It was near Slaughterhouse Road.
The victim's Jeep was found parked near the body that was spotted by a passerby around 3:15 a.m.
The body was being taken to Nashville for an autopsy.