Douglas County Sheriff’s officers will be working through the night at the scene where a body was discovered this evening lying in a ditch north of Lawrence.

The body, that of an unidentified white male, was discovered shortly before 5 p.m. near a culvert at the intersection of East 1125 Road and Douglas County Road 438, also known as the Farmers Turnpike.

Sheriff Ken McGovern said he didn’t know how the man died but that the case was being treated as a homicide. An autopsy is to be performed, and the Douglas County coroner had been called to the scene.

Sheriff’s officers had blocked off East 1125 Road and were searching the surrounding area and talking with neighbors. If anyone has seen anything suspicious in the area in the past 24 to 48 hours, McGovern asked that they call the Crime Stoppers hot line at 785-841-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous.