NATCHEZ &045; A man whose body was found in a parked RV Monday afternoon could have been dead for more than 12 hours, authorities say.

Sheriff Ronny Brown said investigations so far report the last known contact with Marshall &uot;Mark&uot; Brown, 46, at around 8:30 or 9 p.m. Sunday by phone.

Marshall Brown’s death was reported to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office just after 1:30 p.m. Monday when his employer at Wayne’s Auto entered the RV and found the body.

Brown lived in the RV, which he parked in front of the auto shop where he worked as a mechanic.

The death is being considered a murder, but Ronny Brown said no suspect has been named.

&uot;We’ve been looking at some suspects and requesting some people,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s an ongoing investigation, but we don’t have a suspect.&uot;

No murder weapon has been found and Ronny Brown said the case is not being considered a robbery.

The body was transported to Jackson by Coroner James Lee for a Tuesday autopsy.

Though sheriff’s investigators do not yet want to release the cause of death because the investigation is ongoing, Lee said the situation was gruesome.

Monday night, Lee estimated the time of death at around 12 to 15 hours before he examined the body around 2 p.m.

&uot;It was one of the most horrifying murders I’ve seen,&uot; Lee said. &uot;Nobody should die that way. I’m very hopeful the sheriff’s office will come up with the person who committed this crime. I just can’t see these type of things happening in Natchez.&uot;

Anyone with any information can call the sheriff’s office or Crime Stoppers at 442-5000.