WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Investigators now say a man found dead earlier this week had been stabbed.
The county coroner believes Ryan Jones was dead for a while before his body was found.
Williamsport police are still piecing together how Jones, 28, from Williamsport, ended up next to a trailer behind the Williamsport Bureau of Fire on New Year's morning.
According to the district attorney, Jones was stabbed.
A member of the Williamsport Bureau of Fire found the body lying next to a trailer along Walnut Street early on New Year's Day.
The county coroner believes Jones was dead for a while before his body was found.
Newswatch 16 spoke to close friends of the victim. They tell us Jones, who grew up in South Williamsport, was working for a natural gas company. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Jones death comes as a shock to many in the community.
Friends are holding a benefit for Jones at the Crippled Bear Inn in Old Lycoming Township on Friday night.
The Rocky Allen Band will be performing starting at 8 p.m., and organizers have donation jars out. All the money collected will be given to Jones' parents to help with funeral expenses.