Body found at oil well in Chambers County

STOWELL, Texas (KTRK) -- Investigators are looking for answers after the body of a man was discovered Saturday at a rural oil well site, authorities said.

The discovery was made by a worker at a site off of Fairview road south of Stowell, according to Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne.

Authorities identified the man as Joshua Nicholas Branch, 35, of Galveston.

Branch was reported missing on Oct. 30th, but was last seen by family members on Oct. 23, Hawthorne said.

Investigators didn't know how the man died. A Justice of the Peace ordered an autopsy.

Branch's identity was initially a mystery when the body was first discovered, because no identification was found.

If you have information regarding Branch or how he died, call the Chambers County Sheriff's Office at (409) 267-2500 or Crime Stoppers at (281) 842-5521.