An investigation is underway after a body was found in a freshly dug grave in northern Jefferson County.

Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 10:45 a.m. Friday to the 3000 block of Raceway Parkway in Mount Olive on a welfare check. They were asked by family to check on a male who had not been heard from in several months.

Deputies knocked on the door but there was no answer. They then discovered the fresh grave on the property. A specially trained cadaver dog was brought to the scene and indicated the presence of human remains.

Investigators obtained a search warrant, opened the grave and found what appeared to be a body. The remains were exhumed.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office is working to identify the remains and determine the cause and manner of death.

Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 205-325-1450 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.