Sheriffs in North Carolina were investigating whether a murder suspect smuggled a gun into his jail cell by hiding it in his rectum.

Officials at Onslow County Jail were left baffled after Michael Leon Ward was found with the unloaded weapon.

He later claimed he found the .38-caliber pistol in his cell bunk.

But a search warrant and a sheriff's office press release indicated the 22 year old, of Canton, Ga., concealed the gun about his person to evade a strip search as he was booked into the jail.

Sheriff Ed Brown told The Daily News on Saturday that a medical exam on Ward showed no injuries. "I don't know if they could verify it or not; there was no damage. We did not take him there for verification, only to find out if he had injuries," Brown said.

He said the strip search meant metal detecting wands were likely not used on the prisoner, who is wanted in connection with an October homicide in his home state.

Ward was booked into the jail Monday after attempting to outrun a North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper who was pursuing him for alleged speeding.