Funeral for former KU football player Brandon Bourbon scheduled for Wednesday

UPDATE: Funeral arrangements are now set for former University of Kansas football player Brandon Bourbon.

Bourbon was found dead Friday from an apparent suicide in Maries County Friday after he was missing for six days.

According to the Declue Funeral Home website, services for Bourbon will be held in Potosi, Mo starting on Tuesday.

The first visitation will be held Tuesday from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Declue Funeral Home. The second visitation is scheduled for Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home as well.

The funeral home website says a funeral service will be held Wednesday evening at 7:00 for Bourbon on thePotosi High School football field.

Brandon Bourbon was reported missing from Washington County on Saturday. Ping data from his phone placed him in Maries County on April 2nd.

Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman tells ABC 17 News a farmer noticed a car in the Little Maries River off Route AA outside Vienna Friday. Around 2:00 p.m., deputies found the car and Bourbon inside with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Sheriff Heitman says the car was about five miles from the last cell phone ping authorities traced.

Bourbon was from Washington County, but Sheriff Heitman believes he may have been in the area because he travels the route to Kansas City often.

Sheriff Heitman met with Bourbon’s family Saturday and called in all deputies to search for the man through the day and night. Crews continued searching all river accesses, ditches and other possible places to park a car Sunday.

“He was located in a very secluded area,” said Sheriff Heitman. “It was down a private drive, a private road, private property not traveled very often. A farmer just went out checking things and noticed a vehicle pulled down into the river.”

Sheriff Heitman tells ABC 17 News that Bourbon’s friends had concerns this could be a possible outcome.

No foul play is suspected and an autopsy is not scheduled. There will be a toxicology screen this week.

ORIGINAL STORY, 7:46 p.m.: ABC 17 News has confirmed a missing man has been found dead in Maries County.

Brandon Bourbon was reported missing from Washington County on Saturday. Ping data from his phone placed him in Maries County late Sunday night.

Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman confirmed via email, saying, “The missing person, Brandon Kyle Bourbon, age 24, of Potosi has been found. Bourbon was located on a secluded river front property off Route AA near Vienna. After investigation, it was apparent that Bourbon committed suicide. The family has been notified and we send them our deepest sympathies.”

Bourbon was a former player for the University of Kansas Jayhawks football team. In a statement, KU Head Football Coach David Beaty said:”Our hearts are broken to hear the news of the passing of Brandon Bourbon. Brandon was a wonderful teammate and friend. He was a tireless worker both on the field and in the classroom and was a constant source of inspiration within our program. The entire Jayhawk family cared very deeply for him and he will always be in our hearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with Brandon’s family and friends.”

Bourbon also played football at Washburn University.

“We are saddened to hear of Brandon’s passing,” Ichabod head football coach Craig Schurig said. “In one season as an Ichabod, he made an immediate impact with the team coming prior to the start of the 2015 season. He was an extremely hard worker and a leader in the locker room and weight room and was voted a team captain prior to his senior season at Washburn. He was a joy to be around and to coach. The Washburn football family sends it thoughts and prayers to Brandon’s family.”

Bourbon was a running back, and according to the website Bleacher Report, he received first-team All-Big 12 academic honors in 2013. In that same season, Bourbon ran for 191 yards, three touchdowns on 41 carries, and added 20 receptions for 102 yards.