PEYTONA, W.Va. -- Police suspect foul play after inspecting the trailer where a 71-year-old Boone County man was found dead Wednesday night.

Jimmie Cooper's coworkers became concerned because he hadn't shown up to his part-time security job since last week. They decided to drive by his trailer in Peytona to check on him, Boone County Sheriff Rodney Miller said Thursday night.

They were alarmed to find Cooper's door standing opened and called 911 without entering. Miller said deputies arrived and discovered Cooper's body in an advanced state of decomposition. The trailer, he said, was in disarray and appeared to be ransacked.

Deputies secured the scene and immediately launched a homicide investigation. Miller is not sure how Cooper died and his body has been sent to the state Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy.

Deputies discovered Thursday morning that Cooper's car was missing, Miller said. The car was later found at a park and ride in Putnam County. How it got there is still a mystery, he said.

The car has been scanned for DNA evidence and has been locked up at the sheriff's department.

Miller said Cooper lived alone and appears to have been targeted. Deputies spent most of Thursday analyzing the crime scene and interviewing neighbors.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Boone County Sheriff's Department at 304-369-7340.

Reach Travis Crum at travis.c...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.