YouTube streamers receive reward for finding body of Joseph Couch

LONDON, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — A pair of YouTube streamers were said to have played an “instrumental” part in bringing the I-75 manhunt to a close.

On Tuesday morning, Sheila and Fred McCoy received the first part of their reward.

The check presentation came 17 days after 32-year-old Woodbine resident Joseph Couch allegedly opened fire on a dozen cars traveling down I-75. After a 12-day manhunt, the McCoys stumbled upon a body near exit 49.

Livestream footage from Hatfield McCoy Museum Adventures showed a group tracking vultures Wednesday afternoon near exit 49 on I-75. At a point during their search, they started to smell decaying flesh, according to the video, which led them to the body.

“We kept lookin’ and lookin’ and she kept smelling, and finally happened up on him. He’s lying in a well; I guess the bank of a little small holler coming off the top of the hill runs into a creek below it. Pretty decomposed,” Fred McCoy told FOX 56.

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Trooper Scottie Pennington said that the $35,000 reward was originally under the condition of Couch being found alive and arrested. However, after a discussion with CrimeStoppers, WB Transport, and the U.S. Marshals, all parties agreed to pay the full reward.

On Tuesday, the McCoys were presented with a $10,000 check from WB Transport for their role in the search.

Pennington told FOX 56 that the McCoys will also receive $10,000 from the U.S. Marshalls and $15,000 from CrimeStoppers.

“Their brave actions were instrumental in bringing closure to this tragic event, and we are deeply thankful for their assistance,” the city of London said. “A special thanks to WB Transport for their generous contribution to the reward fund.”

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