Investigators were awaiting the results of an autopsy Tuesday in hopes of discovering the identity of a body that was found at the Hazelton boat ramp.

The victim had no identification, and a vehicle parked at the boat ramp had no license plates, Emmons County Sheriff Rueben Richter said Tuesday, calling those circumstances "unusual."

The victim is a male believed to be in his 40s or 50s, Richter said.

"We don't know who he is, we haven't been able to trace him down," RIchter said.

There are no missing person reports within the state or surrounding areas that match the victim, Richter said.

"We'll keep working on it tonight," he said.

The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in the investigation, which is the usual procedure in unattended death cases. "We are awaiting results of tests to determine the manner of death and identification for notification of relatives," said BCI agent Jeff White.

Richter said a preliminary examination at the scene showed a single gunshot wound above the victim's left eye. "We're leaning toward suicide," he said, "but we're not sure yet."

Richter said authorities found a handgun in the vicinity of the body.

Richter said an autopsy was performed Tuesday morning, and a preliminary finding showed the victim died of a gunshot wound to the head.

"Hopefully, we'll get the full autopsy report in the morning" Richter said.

A woman walking her dog discovered the body on Monday, Richter said.

(Reach reporter Richard Hinton at 250-8256 or outdoors@bismarcktribune.net.)