A 22 year old man from Georgia is dead by his own hand and there’s a Central Louisiana connection to this story.

News Channel 5 typically does not report suicides, but before Wesley Benford turned up dead in Newton County Texas he was thought to be a missing person and his last known whereabouts-- The Days Inn in Vernon Parish.

Benford was a college student at Auburn.  His parents had been out of contact with him since early March.

Back on March 24th, a wildlife and fisheries agent recognized the young man’s vehicle and spoke with him in Leesville.

Wesley Benford told officers he was returning home-- but he didn’t do that. 

Moments before our 5 o’clock broadcast started, we learned that Benford lit a grill in the cab of his pickup truck and inhaled the smoke-- taking his own life. 

Law enforcement officials say the young man had no known connection to Newton County Texas.  They say they found a suicide note in the vehicle.