By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Authorities in St. John the Baptist Parish are seeking help in identifying the body of a man found in the water along Interstate 55 in Ruddock last night.

St. John Parish search and rescue responded to a 911 call around 7:30 p.m. and spoke to a boater who said he saw the body in the water about two miles north of the Ruddock exit on I-55, said Capt. Dane Clement, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office.

The man was about 5 feet, 6 inches tall and had three tattoos: praying hands on his left forearm, a deck of cards with dollar signs on his right forearm and a fleur de lis with the words “New Orleans Saints” on his upper right arm.

Clement said the Sheriff’s Office is seeking help from residents as well as surrounding law enforcement agencies. He said a preliminary autopsy report is scheduled for today to determine identification and cause of seath. Anyone with information that will help identify the man should call St. John Detectives at 985-652-6338.