The St. Louis Major Case Squad has concluded a Metro-East man found dead in a pond near the Best Western Motel on the west side of Centralia last Sunday died from injuries that were self-inflicted.
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department asked for the Major Case Squad investigation after an autopsy found the injuries on the body of 37-year-old Jeffrey Downs of Swansea were not consistent with an accidental death. After three days of investigation, the Major Case Squad found nothing to indicate foul play and reached the conclusion that Downs had died as a result of self-inflicted injuries.
Downs’ body was found by Centralia City Firefighters after they launched a boat into the pond after a Centralia Police officer had found his jacket floating in the pond. Downs’ family had come to Centralia last Sunday morning after not hearing from Downs since Friday and being concerned about his mental condition.
