Authorities are investigating after a body found at Hollywood Beach earlier this week was identified as a federal prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami.

Hollywood Police confirmed that the body of Beranton J. Whisenant Jr., 37, was found Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed Thursday that Whisenant was a federal prosecutor in their office.

"The U.S. Attorney's Office family is deeply saddened by his death. He was a wonderful lawyer and great colleague," the office said in a statement. "We will miss him deeply. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family."



Police said they're investigating the cause of death. A source told NBC 6 he may have suffered trauma. The FBI was also part of the death investigation.

The body was found in the water near Magnolia Terrace early Wednesday by residents in the area.

"When the tide came in he obviously was caught in the surf and tumbling, about a 35-year-old African-American man, very well dressed wearing a sort of a casual business shirt, black pants, and all of his personal effects were on him and that's what we found unusual," resident Bill Renick said.



Whisenant's LinkedIn profile said he has been an assistant U.S. attorney since January 2017. He received his law degree from the University of Florida in 2004 and had been a partner at Foley & Mansfield, PLLP, before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Whisenant was also an adjunct instructor at the University of Miami Paralegal Program.