JACKSON, Miss. -- Law enforcement agents on Wednesday afternoon confirmed that the body found near the Mississippi River in Coahoma County is that of Clarksdale mayoral candidate Marco McMillian, who had been missing since early Tuesday.

The Coahoma County Sheriff's Department made the announcement at a news conference.

The body was found around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday near the levee between Sherard and Rena Lara.

A person of interest has been taken into custody, but sheriff's officials didn't provide the name or where the person is being held. The Clarion Ledger reported that authorities have identified the person as Lawrence Reed, 22, of Clarksdale.

Charges haven't been filed.

Condolences started pouring into McMillian's Facebook page and Twitter account on Wednesday, mourning his loss.

"Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Marco McMillian, one of the 1st viable openly LGBT candidates in Mississippi," tweeted the Victory Fund, a national organization that supports gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender candidates.

Jarod Keith, McMillian's campaign spokesman, confirmed the candidate was openly gay but said it never came up during the campaign. Keith said he was in shock over the incident.

"We remember Marco as a bold and passionate public servant, whose faith informed every aspect of his life," Keith said in a statement issued after the news conference. "Tragically, that life has been cut short."

McMillian was discovered absent after an accident involving his SUV around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday near the Coahoma County-Tallahatchie County line. Reed, who was driving McMillian's SUV, had collided head-on with another vehicle.

McMillian wasn't in his SUV at the time of the accident, thus prompting a search for his whereabouts.

Originally posted by ManDown

I hope the person who did this rots in prison.