The Department of Justice is investigating the death of Alfred Wright , a physical therapist who disappeared and died under mysterious circumstances in an isolated section of Texas , U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said Monday . Wright , 28 , a resident of Jasper , Texas , was last seen alive November 7 when he stopped at a liquor store because he was having trouble with his pickup truck . He was on his way to treat a patient . Local law enforcement authorities searched but gave up . His family found his partially clothed body 19 days later in an area that officers had supposedly searched . Adding more confusion , a medical examiner said the death was accidental , but a different pathologist hired by the family said there appeared to be `` severe trauma '' to the body . The federal investigation comes after reporting by CNN into the case . Lee , a Democrat who represents the 18th District of Texas , announced the investigation in a Monday press release . It was n't immediately clear from the Justice Department when or how it will proceed with the investigation . Family members said Wright , married and the father of two young sons , called from the CL & M Grocery on Route 87 , asking someone to pick him up because of problems with his truck . When they arrived , he was gone . The next day , Wright 's personal effects , including his watch and ID , turned up on a nearby ranch but the search for him turned up nothing . Family members say the sheriff told them `` there was no foul play '' and that Wright 's disappearance was probably drug-related . Family and friends kept searching . When found , Wright was wearing only boxer shorts , tennis shoes and a single sock , inside of which was his cell phone . Wright was missing an ear , two front teeth , and his tongue . His throat appeared to be cut . The medical examiner attributed the trauma to `` animal and insect activity . '' The coroner 's toxicology report described Wright 's body as filled with drugs -- cocaine , methamphetamine -- and his death was ruled accidental due to a `` combined drug intoxication . '' Family members said they never saw Wright do drugs . The family hired their own pathologist , who did a separate autopsy that found what appeared to be `` severe trauma to the neck and head . '' The Sabine County Sheriff 's Department handed the investigation over to the Texas Rangers , who announced they had called in the FBI to assist . Feds , family seek answers a year after teen 's mysterious death .
Alfred Wright was missing three weeks before his body was found . A coroner 's report said his body was filled with drugs , and his death was ruled accidental . Family members say they never saw him do drugs . Texas Rangers say the death is questionable and called in the FBI to help investigate .