Update: Police have now confirmed that the body found in a ditch is that of missing man Jovan Morris.
Elizabeth City, N.C. - After 26 days of waiting, Dana Morris can finally lay her son to rest.
Morris says a medical examiner confirmed the body found in a ditch outside Elizabeth City nearly two weeks ago was her son's, 25-year-old Jovan Morris, who had been missing since July 5.
"I’m going to miss if nothing else, that smile,” she says. “My son had the biggest prettiest smile in America to me."
"My heart goes out to his one-year-old son who will never ever see his father,” Morris says. “His father did not get to experience him turning one. That was just so wrong."
The day he went missing, Jovan's car was found at an Elizabeth City apartment complex. The keys were still in the ignition.
Police say they spoke with his girlfriend and she told them he did not pick her up from work the night before which is something that he always does. The girlfriend filed a report and that's when the investigation started.
Over 500 man hours were spent looking for Jovan.
While the news brings some sense of closure to Dana, she says it also opens up new questions.
"Who is responsible? “ she asks. “Who did this to my son? They are still out there."
Police confirmed to NewsChannel 3 on Wednesday that the body that was found is in fact Jovan’s.
Morris hopes anyone with information will come forward.
"I just hope that someone will come forth and have the heart to help us," she says.
Police are now following up on leads to try to find out who is responsible. The time and cause of death will not be released yet as police continue to investigate.
If you know anything that could help police in this case, call the Elizabeth City Police Department at (252)335-4321, or the Elizabeth City Pasquotank County Crime Line at (252)335-5555.
