DAVENPORT — A homicide investigation has been launched for Robby Ray Kohn, 41, of Davenport, whose body was discovered Saturday morning in the farm field where police say he was killed.

Mr. Kohn's body had been lying in the field for more than 24 hours before it was accidentally struck by a pickup driven by Chase Michael Bromwell, 25, of Davenport, who appeared to be in the field hunting Saturday morning.

An autopsy performed Monday on Mr. Kohn led police to rule his death a homicide, Davenport Assistant Police Chief Donald Schaeffer said at a Tuesday news conference.

"This was more of an isolated area out in the cornfield. He was taken out there and killed," Assistant Chief Schaeffer said.

It is not believed the field, located off Utah Avenue just south of Telegraph Road, had any specific connection to the victim, he said.

A deputy sheriff found Mr. Kohn's body at 1:31 a.m. Saturday when he saw a pickup parked in the field. As the officer approached, he saw a person dash from the vehicle and, in the beam of the headlights, saw Mr. Kohn's body on the ground.

Additional police were dispatched. Despite an early morning rain, a perimeter was established and tracking dogs began to comb the area.

In less than two hourspolice found the owner of the pickup and identified him as Mr. Bromwell. He told officers he had been out in the field when his vehicle struck the deceased.

"He was a victim of circumstance and ran over a body that was dumped there," said Assistant Chief Schaeffer. The assistant chief said Mr. Bromwell fled when the deputy arrived because he was unsure if he had caused Mr. Kohn's death.

Although Mr. Bromwell is not believed to have been involved in the homicide, he has been charged in Scott County Circuit Court with a misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated in connection with the incident, the assistant chief said.

Mr. Kohn suffered from several "social issues" and did not have a permanent residence, Assistant Chief Schaeffer said, adding that may be why he had not been reported missing. Records indicate Mr. Kohn was released from the Scott County Jail four days prior to his death after serving about a month for his third intoxication misdemeanor.

Mr. Kohn's cause of death is not expected to be released until an arrest has been made, Assistant Chief Schaeffer said.

"We've had detectives working around the clock," he said, adding that several suspects have been identified.