Body of missing Yazoo City man found

Yazoo City Police Chief Jay Winstead confirmed in an interview with Vicksburg Daily News that the body of Earnest Charles Stiff was found at approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday in a ditch near the end of East 2nd Street in Yazoo City.

Mr. Stiff had been missing since 10 p.m. Aug 12, and a massive search effort by the Mississippi Strike Team was launched to find him. The team included members of the Madison Police Department, Madison Fire Department, Bentonia Police Department, Rankin County EMA, Warren County Fire Department, Warren County EMA, Yazoo County EMA, Yazoo County Sheriff Department, Yazoo County Search and Rescue, and Yazoo City Fire Department came together to organize the search effort.

Stiff’s body has been transported to the state medical examiner’s office in Pearl, Mississippi, for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Chief Winstead offered his heartfelt condolences to the family as well as a sincere thanks to all those that helped with the search.