The body of a man found last week in Little River Canyon near Fort Payne, Ala., has been identified as a Chattanooga man.
The Dec. 6 death has been ruled a suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, park officials said.
The victim was Raymond Keith Jenkins, 36.
Authorities said earlier they heard shots as they checked out a 1999 Jeep Wrangler with Hamilton County plates at a parking area after hours. The partially-burned body of a man was found at a campfire.
Officials said the body was burned beyond recognition so a forensic examination was required for positive identification.
Officials said the sounds heard by the park ranger were apparently ammunition going off after the victim and his gun fell into the fire.
The FBI issued this release on the case:
On December 6, 2007, at approximately 7:30 p.m., a U.S. Park Service Ranger observed and responded to a fire in the LRC in Cherokee County, Alabama. A male body was discovered on fire located within a few feet of a campfire that had gone out. Further investigation by U.S. Park Service Rangers (USPR), Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department (CCSO) and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) personnel discovered a .25 caliber pistol lying underneath the victim along with one fired .25 caliber casing. A jeep, believed to be that of the victim was found in the LRC. A vehicle key used to unlock the jeep was also found on the body of Jenkins.
"Vehicle registration information confirmed that the jeep was registered to Jenkins. LRC is considered a government reservation and FBI agents from the Gadsden Resident Agency were contacted and responded to the scene.
"The state of Alabama conducted an autopsy on the body on December 7, 2007. The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was a single gun shot to the roof of the mouth. Dental records confirmed that the body was that of Jenkins.
"SAC Adams thanked the USPR, CCSO, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office the ABI, DeSoto State Park Rangers and FBI agents from the Knoxville Division, Chattanooga Resident Agency for their assistance in this case."