AMITE - The St. Helena Parish Sheriff's Office said a body was found and is being investigated as a homicide. 

The sheriff's office identified the victim as Joseph Peters, 32.  Although, transgender advocates said Saturday, Peters was transgender and went by Shaki. 

Peters' body was found around 2 p.m. Wednesday on Opal Bennett Road near Amite.

Authorities also said, "There is a person of interest from another parish that is currently being investigated" but did not release any additional information.

Saturday morning, advocates for transgender rights reported Peters was misidentified by the sheriff's office. 

A second death of a transgender person was unrelated to the death of Peters and advocates said they misrepresented the circumstances in an earlier news release: "We apologize for sharing information that turned out not to be accurate," Dylan Waguespack, Board President of Louisiana Trans Advocates said in a statement. 

Seek help from a crisis hotline

Advocates are available to take questions and help people dealing with abuse: Trans Lifeline provides crisis support: 877-565-8860.  

The Anti-Violence Project also provides crisis assistance to LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV.  Trained advocates are available immediately on a 24-hour bilingual free and confidential hotline: (212) 714 -1141.