LUCEDALE, Miss. (AP) — Authorities says a man accused of kidnapping and raping a Lucedale gas station clerk Saturday night has been found dead inside a Hattiesburg motel room.

Forrest County Coroner Butch Benedict tells WLOX TV (http://bit.ly/1hJQXAs) a vehicle linked to Stephen Eugene Howell was found at the Motel 6 on Monday.

Lucedale Police Chief Barry Lambert said agents with the U.S. Marshals Service found Howell’s body inside a room at the motel.

Investigators say they found no physical injuries to Howell. The cause of his death is unknown. Benedict said his body is being taken to Jackson for an autopsy.

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