ST MARY, Jamaica – A farmer was found dead near his home in Roadside district, Islington, St Mary, Wednesday morning.

Linton George Thomas, 41, otherwise called ‘Bobo’ or ‘Ben Up’, was found dead by residents who had launched a search for him in the community, police said.

Reports are that around 11:30 pm on Tuesday, residents heard several loud explosions coming from the direction of where Thomas lived but did not call the police.

Around 10:30 Wednesday morning, a family friend went to Thomas’ house to make checks. However, he was not seen, and what appeared to be blood was observed leading from the home to a two-storey concrete structure that was still under construction.

A search of that premises was carried out by community members, family members and his dogs and Thomas’ body was found in a pit about 12 feet deep.

It was clad in black and white shorts and barefooted, with the upper body wrapped with what appeared to be tarpaulin.

The help of the Port Maria fire department had to be requested to help retrieve the body, the police said.