PLATTSBURGH — It appears that the search for the body of Jahfari Joseph, missing since late last year, is over.

State Police said that on Thursday during a search along Route 26 in the Town of Franklin in the eastern part of Franklin County, officers located a deceased male who has been tentatively identified as Joseph.

The Franklin County Coroner’s office, represented by Coroner Myron O. Leonard, Jr., responded to the scene and authorized the removal of the body, State Police said.

An autopsy is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 16, in Glens Falls.

Joseph, 40, of Plattsburgh has been missing since Dec. 29, 2024.

Police said that he was dead and they were searching for his body.

Timothy S. Timmons, 61, of Plattsburgh, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder following an investigation into the disappearance of Joseph.

Court documents said that the murder took place at 646 Fuller Rd. on Dec. 29, 2024 at approximately 8 p.m.

Timmons has been remanded to Clinton County Jail without bail.

In the weeks after Joseph’s disappearance, area police agencies have been searching in several locations for Joseph’s body, including Irish Settlement Road in the Town of Schuyler Falls and Cass Road in the Town of Saranac.

Resources such as K9s and drones were used in the searches.

Police said that more than 225 leads had been investigated in the case numerous search warrants were executed and many interviews conducted.

The State Police and State Forest Rangers were assisted by the Plattsburgh City Police Department and the Duane Fire Department in the Franklin County search on Thursday.

State Police had said that they had executed multiple search warrants, processed the scene, and conducted multiple interviews to gather evidence resulting in the arrest of Timmons.

Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said in early January that the home at 646 Fuller Road is owned by Timmons’ ex-wife Kelly. He said Timmons was staying there frequently as would their children on and off.

Wylie said they were able to tie Timmons to the crime through “information confirming Timothy Timmons is responsible.”

Wylie said that information included interviews, statements they received and audio and video from a cell phone that made them believe he (Joseph) was shot and killed at the Fuller Road residence.

Wylie said they knew Joseph’s body remained at the Peru residence for a couple days and was then moved.

He said they know Joseph was “shot multiple times” by Timmons. He said they were still putting pieces of the puzzle together to determine if Timmons acted alone in the aftermath of the murder.

There has been no report of a murder weapon being recovered, and the investigation of the case continues.