FORT DODGE — Two Fort Dodge men have been arrested after a man was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound Friday in a rural Webster County ditch.

The body was identified as that of Dennis R. Jones, 55, of Fort Dodge.

Alec R. Jones, 26, of Fort Dodge, is charged with first-degree murder. Nathan T. Jones, 21, of Fort Dodge, is charged with aiding and abetting murder in the first degree, in connection with his death.

The two are now in custody in the Webster County Jail.

Dennis Jones’ body was found after a mail carrier on his route called the Webster County Telecommunications Center around 12:18 p.m. Friday, saying that he might have found a body.

Consequently, Dennis Jones’ body was found in a ditch in the 2100 mile of 280th Street, according to a media release from the Fort Dodge Police Department. The location is near where 280th Street intersects with U.S. Highway 169 south of Fort Dodge.

An investigation led officials to believe Jones had not been shot where he was found.

A subsequent search warrant was executed at 1440 Second Ave. S. in Fort Dodge. According to the Webster County Assessor’s Office, that property is owned by Dennis R. Jones Jr. and Shannon C. Jones.

The arrests followed that search.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Fort Dodge Police by calling the Webster County Law Enforcement Center at 515-573-2323. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Webster County Crime Stoppers by calling 515-573-1444, going online at www.wccrimestoppers.com or by texting “LEC” and the tip to 274-637.

The Fort Dodge Police Department was assisted by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Dodge Fire Department, the Webster County Attorney’s Office, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Webster County medical examiner, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Special Emergency Response Team.