A federal prosecutor whose dead body was discovered on a beach in South Florida possibly suffered head trauma and detectives are trying to determine whether he was murdered, it was revealed Friday.

The body of Beranton J. Whisenant Jr., 37, who worked for the US attorney’s office in Miami, was found lying on the beach by passersby early Wednesday and authorities are trying to how he died.

Whisenant worked in the major crimes unit. He had joined the office in January.

Court records show he had been handling several visa and passport fraud cases.

Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg said in a statement that Whisenant was a “great lawyer and wonderful colleague.” The office declined to comment on the investigation.

With Wires