The University of Memphis student Barshay Wilson, 25, who vanished a night before his graduation, has been found dead. Wilson was reported missing on Dec. 9.
On Monday evening, Wilson’s body was found with a gunshot wound under leaves and tree particles near the Arlington Water Plant. The Memphis Police Department is ruling his death as a homicide.
BREAKING:
Three independent sources confirmed to me they located missing U of M student Barshay Wilson’s body off Hwy 70 in Arlington yesterday. A burned out car and his body buried yards away underneath leaves and tree branches. Wilson was supposed to graduate Sunday. pic.twitter.com/aoXICEthCL— Jeremy Pierre FOX13 (@JeremypierreFOX) December 13, 2022
Wilson’s friend reports seeing him last at a party on Friday in Southwest Memphis. The friend told police they saw Wilson for a brief 15 minutes. Police report around 8:35 p.m., he went outside to take a phone call.
***** CITY WATCH *****
Have you seen Barshay Wilson? pic.twitter.com/gBr7V9U3n4— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) December 12, 2022
A friend went outside to check on Wilson. She recalls seeing a car parked outside but couldn’t find Wilson. The friend then used the Find My iPhone app to locate his whereabouts, which tracked him at the interstate around 9 p.m.
Wilson’s mother said her son told her of his plans to attend the party Friday night. Later in the evening, Wilson’s friend called her to explain seeing Wilson at the party but could not find him after.
According to Fox 13, the friend went outside to check on Wilson. She recalls seeing a car parked outside but couldn’t find Wilson.
On December 12, 2022, at 3:50pm, officers responded to 11150 Highway 70 regarding a body that had been located. Officers made the scene and found a male victim with an apparent gunshot wound. The identity of the victim has not yet been confirmed. This is an ongoing investigation. pic.twitter.com/ArYpti448d
— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) December 13, 2022
Memphis Police launched a City Watch missing person alert for Wilson over the weekend. Police located his car in flames late in the evening, around 10:30 p.m. His ID was discovered near the passenger side door.
Where the fire happened late Friday night in the same location point where police found Wilson’s body three days later.
The body has been identified as missing person Barshay Wilson, 25. He was reported missing on December 9, 2022. This is an ongoing investigation.
— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) December 14, 2022
Wilson was set to graduate with a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree on Dec. 11 but was not at the commencement inviting his family and friends to report him missing.
Anyone with information, please report tips to the Memphis Police Department at 901-528-2274 or submit an online tip.
