Authorities are investigating the death of a Shubuta man found in a Quitman ditch. 

Takarus Rederio Moore, of Shubuta, died from unknown causes and was found in a wooded area in Quitman Thursday, according to Clarke County Sheriff Todd Kemp.

Kemp said that Moore, 31, had last been seen on Tuesday, during a traffic stop.

A Clarke County deputy observed a southbound vehicle driving erratically on Highway 145, bluelighted the vehicle and followed the vehicle until it stopped on Thompson Avenue, Kemp said.

Kemp said Moore and the vehicle’s driver both exited and ran on foot.

The deputy stayed with the vehicle after they observed a woman and a small child still in the vehicle and called for backup.

Deputies located the driver, who had no driver’s license, no tag and no license plate, after a short foot chase but did not locate Moore.

On Thursday morning, Moore’s family filed a missing person’s report. Around 5 p.m., a family member found Moore in a wooded area, just west of the railroad track, not far from the traffic stop, according to Kemp.

Kemp said the family called 911 and authorities pronounced Moore dead at the scene with no clear cause of death. Moore had no obvious wounds and was transported to the State Crime Lab in Pearl for an autopsy. 

Clarke County deputies have turned the case over to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations. 

Kemp said law enforcement didn’t know why Moore ran from authorities, adding that he had no active warrants at the time of the traffic stop.