Body of a man found in Pahokee canal identified by sheriff's office

PAHOKEE, Fla. - UPDATE: The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has officially identified the body found in a Pahokee canal as 23-year-old Tabias C. Felton. They say he lived at 811 Palm Boulevard in Pahokee.

According to the sheriff's office, an autopsy was performed and completed Friday. The preliminary finding is drowning and no foul play is suspected.

The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's office is now waiting for toxicology reports.

EARLIER STORY:

PAHOKEE, Fla. - The discovery of a body led to a tense scene in Pahokee Thursday.

Investigators said the body of a male was found in a canal Thursday morning south of Muck City Road and east of Pope Court. He was in shallow water face down and naked near a chain-linked fence near the Fremd Village public housing community.

"It's sad out here it's sad," said one unidentified woman.

The man's identity has yet to be revealed by police but Latonya Hickman says she believes it's her nephew, 23-year-old Tabias Felton. "An officer did come to me and say from the pictures they have that someone gave them that he was identified through those pictures."

Orinet Legros is the mother of Felton's son. She says on Sunday she reported him missing after he didn't come home.

Legros said when no one responded to her concerns neighbors came together and conducted their own search. She says they did find Felton's clothing but no body. "Man we walked this whole field and didn't find him. Something ain't right that's how I feel."

Sherman Gibson said, "I am the same person that searched this canal bank three times that whole day  exactly at that tree and nobody was there but today all of a sudden a body appear."

The family says they hope the truth comes out and justice is served.   

Until then they say they will rely on their faith to keep them strong.
 
"Just pray, just praying up. You can only pray about it and leave it in God's hands," Hickman said.

Neighbors believed the man might have been involved in an incident with the sheriff's office, but that has not been confirmed by investigators.