By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

GRAMERCY — A 25-year old Gonzales man’s body was found on Friday, after a long search in St. James Parish.

St. James Parish Sheriff Willy J. Martin Jr. said the last time Keelan Irvin was seen was on Dec. 3, and his car, a Chevrolet Avalanche was found on Dec. 4 in a sugar cane field in Gramercy.

&#8220The car was found stripped of two wheels on one side,” Martin said. &#8220When we first found it, we assumed it was stolen, but then after a closer look, there were signs inside that suggested violent acts.”

Martin said Irvin was the owner of the car, but when the Sheriff’s Office contacted his family they said they had not been able to contact him.

&#8220The family assisted in the search for Irvin,” Martin said. &#8220We also worked with Gonzales and Ascension Parish during the search.”

Irvin’s body was found Friday at the edge of the woods in Gramercy, off of LA 641, near the Interstate 10 exit to Hwy 61, according to Martin.

Martin said results from the autopsy are still pending, and can not release the cause of death at this time.

Investigation is continuing, and a suspect in the case has been revealed.

Martin said Terrell Stipe, 29, of Killona, is a &#8220person of interest,” because evidence around Irvin’s car found in the cane field suggest Stipe is a suspect.

Stipe is being held in Ascension Parish for two counts of armed robbery, and maybe charged with a third count for the same crime.