ME: Body Found In Pott. County Is That Of Missing Shawnee Man

The medical examiner's office has positively identified the body, discovered near Meeker on Wednesday, as that of 27-year-old Marshall Dent.

According to the ME's report, Dent was killed by blunt force trauma to the head and neck. The manner of death is now officially homicide.

1/15/2014 Related Story: Body Found In Rural Area Near Meeker

Dent's mother, Pam, tells News 9 she last saw Marshall on Dec. 23. Pam says she grew even more concerned when she found out her son had left their Shawnee home with 36-year-old George E. Walker.

Walker is a convicted felon. In 1994 he was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years in prison for stabbing and killing a man. He was released in 2005, but went back to prison two more times for assault and battery.

1/16/2014 Related Story: Convicted Felon Could Have Connection To Missing Shawnee Man

Neither Federal nor local investigators have confirmed if Walker was indeed a suspect in Marshall's disappearance. However, on Thursday night, News 9 has learned the DA had increased his bond to $400,000.

Keep checking with News 9 and News9.com for more information.