Police ID body on trail

A body discovered Monday afternoon by children on a Gwinnett County neighborhood walking trail was identified Tuesday as that of a missing 21-year-old man, police said.

Just before 5 p.m., police responded to a call of a body near the trail in the 2000 block of Northcliff Drive, Gwinnett police said in a news release. The children came upon the body lying facedown and near blood.

The man was later identified by police as William A. Tunchez. Tunchez’s father reported the man missing about noon Monday after he did not return to their Lawrenceville home Sunday night.

He was last seen about 9 p.m. Sunday, when he dropped off his brother and left to visit a family member at an unknown location, Gwinnett police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera said.

His father told police it was out of character for Tunchez not to communicate with family. He had never gone missing before, he said.

“The other family member does not live in the neighborhood of the crime scene,” Pihera said in a statement Tuesday.

His truck was found parked along a curb a few houses from where his body was found. The truck will be processed to collect further evidence, Pihera said.

An autopsy was expected to be performed to determine the cause of death.

Anyone with info is asked to contact Gwinnett police at 770-5135300. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting info to 274637 or visiting atlantapolicefoundation.org.