A federal prosecutor was found mysteriously dead with possible head trauma at a Florida beach, with police investigating it was a crime.
The body was Beranton J. Whisenant Jr., a 37-year-old investigating visa and passport fraud cases, was found early Wednesday, according to authorities in nearby Hollywood, Fla.
Whisenant had just joined the Miami U.S. Attorney’s Office in January.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office family was deeply saddened and shocked to learn of Beranton’s death,” the office said in a statement.
“He was a great lawyer and wonderful colleague, and we will miss him deeply. Our thoughts are with Beranton’s family and friends.”
A LinkedIn page for Whisenant showed that the University of Florida Law graduate previously worked at the firm Foley & Mansfield.
It was not immediately clear if the lawyer died on the beach or somewhere else.
Resident Bill Renick told WTVJ that the body, wearing a dress shirt and black pants, had been tumbling in the waves and still had personal items on it.
A source told the station that the prosecutor may have suffered head trauma.
The Hollywood Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the circumstances of Whisenant’s discovery.
