He has been identified as Donald Preston, 51, of Fort Dodge.

Preston’s death is a homicide, the office ruled.

Webster County Sheriff Jim Stubbs said Preston’s death is the first homicide in Webster County of 2016, and the first homicide reported in the county since the September 2015 death of Roger Brown.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said Wednesday that Preston had not been reported missing and was last seen by family in Fort Dodge on Dec. 22.

His body was found in a field near a curve on Webster County Road P51, just southwest of Fort Dodge, Monday morning.

It was initially reported as a man lying in the field, but after deputies arrived on scene after 9 a.m. they contacted the Webster County medical examiner, believing the man, who was then unidentified, was deceased.

The Webster County medical examiner arrived on scene around 9:30 and confirmed the man was dead.

Deputies on scene said it appeared that Preston had been in the field overnight.

Preston’s autopsy was conducted at the state medical examiner’s office in Ankeny Wednesday.

The DCI said the investigation into his death is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Webster County Sheriff’s Department at 573-1410 or Webster County Crime Stoppers at 573-1444. Anonymous tips can also be sent online at wccrimestoppers.com or by texting “LEC” and the tip to 274637.