A body found in the Mississippi River Monday night remained unidentified and the cause of death undetermined this morning, though leads on the identity of the victim were being followed, Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said.

“We are methodically going through the process of contacting jurisdictions upstream from Vicksburg that are conducting accident or missing person investigations related to the Mississippi River,” Pace said today.

Deputy coroner Kelda Bailess said late Tuesday the state crime lab had not been able to get to the autopsy, and it was expected today. Possible leads provided by other law enforcement agencies could aid in identifying the victim, she said, especially in being able to provide dental records and other key information.

The body, presumed to be a man because of its clothing, was spotted by a river towboat operator around 7 p.m. Monday, near Kings Point Island about 4 miles upstream from the Mississippi River bridges at Vicksburg. Workers at Ergon Marine were radioed and took a small contact boat able to get closer to the river bank to check the report, and then notified Pace.

Pace, Bailess, two investigators and an officer with the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife service recovered the body, which was sent to the crime lab for an autopsy and identification.

Pace would not speculate on how long the body had been in the river before it was found. “There are just too many variables,” he said.