22-year-old man’s body found in Henry County
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PARIS, Tenn. — The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has identified the body found Thursday evening along Hwy 641 North just outside of Paris. Family members who reported the 22-year-old missing said they found his body trapped inside a storage box in their yard. Less than 24 hours after losing her brother, Courtney Stepp shared words about Brandon Lee Mullins. “I really miss him. I love him even though we used to fight and everything,” Stepp said. Stepp said her older brother helped her to the bus every morning and that she doesn’t know what she’ll do without him. Several agencies alongside the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene on Highway 641 North. “Deputy Wayne Fuqua along with his K-9 Cisco assisted the family in the search for the missing person,” Investigator Adam Jenkins said. Jenkins said they received the report of a missing person at 4:02 p.m. With the help of the K-9 and family they were able to find Mullins’ body around 5:15 p.m. just feet away from his home. Jenkins said Mullins was found in a container but could not give specifics. “It’s our belief that he became entrapped in there and was not able to get out,” Jenkins said. “Yesterday was probably the hottest day we had so far this year, and we feel like the heat inside that container was definitely a contributing factor to his death.” “I love him very much,” Carol Clary said. Clary is Mullins’ grandmother. She said no grandparent should experience the death of a grandson. “He was a very sweet kid,” Clary said. “He loved fishing, he liked to mow yards and you couldn’t ask for a better kid.” The family said the prayers they’ve received haven’t gone unnoticed. “We’re just doing the best we can one day at a time,” Clary said. Mullins’ body has been sent to Nashville for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death. Officers said the investigation is ongoing, but they don’t believe foul play or suspicious activity was involved. “This is a tragic and devastating loss,” Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew said. “Mr. Mullins’ family will definitely be in the thoughts and prayers of the sheriff’s office.”
