BEAULAH, Ala. (AP) — Alabama authorities have charged a suspect in the death of a 72-year-old man whose body was found in a well.

The victim was identified as James Edmund Clarke, of Valley, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said in a press release.

Sheriff’s investigators have charged Hubert Timothy Sprayberry, 58, of Valley, with murder in Clarke’s death, news outlets reported. Clarke and Sprayberry were acquaintances, authorities said.

An examination at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences showed Clarke died from being stabbed and shot, before his body was dumped in the well, authorities said. The death was ruled a homicide

Clarke had not been seen for three weeks before he was reported missing on Dec. 19. Investigators probing Clarke’s disappearance were serving a search warrant Sunday night when they found the body, said Harris, who added it took several agencies 2½ hours to retrieve the remains from the well.

“It is still unclear at this time as to what transpired leading up to the death,” Harris said.

Anyone with information on Clarke’s death is asked to call the Lee County Sheriff at 334-749-5651, the Lee County Crime Stoppers line at 888-522-7847, or the Lee County Coroner Secret Witness Line at 334-742-4339.

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