GLADEWATER (KYTX) - The official identity of a body found in Gladewater yesterday is still not being released. However, the potential victim's father is convinced it's his son.
The Gregg County Sheriff's Office and all other departments working on this case are staying quiet as they still try to figure out exactly how a man ended up dead in Little Caney Creek. They discovered the body a little before 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday. However, Thomas Beason said he was the one who first called 9-1-1 and said he found the body of his son, 30-year-old Tommy Beason, after using cell phone coordinates the past three weeks to search for his son.
"I promised his mama and I promised his brothers I wasn't going to give up," Beason said. "If I wasn't working, I was looking. The last three weeks have been the darkest times of my life. I'm happy that we found him. Not good how we found him."
Beason said he lost touch with his son when he got into drugs about nine months ago. He said that might have been a factor in his death. However, he hopes people will remember his son for who he was before that time.
"He's lived 29 great years," Beason said. "Then the last year, just...you can't judge him by that. He's still a dad, a son, a brother, a nephew, a grandson."
Beason said he has one main regret and one main message for all parents.
"Boy I regret pushing him away," Beason said. "Just hold onto your kid. If he's messing up, grab hold of him. Don't do what I did."
Beason also brought up some serious issues he sees right now in East Texas related to drugs and the people who get involved with them. CBS19 will follow up with Beason's concerns on Friday.