SHERBURNE – Police have uncovered the body of who they believe is a Pittsfield man killed during an attempted drug robbery that erupted into a lethal gun battle.

“We found the blood, the guns and the drugs. All we were missing was the body. This is now a homicide investigation,” said Loughren.

The body was discovered with help from Robert R. Reynolds, 46, Sherburne, who claims he killed Joshua D. Richheimer, 32, in self defense last week and then with the help of his neighbor, Nicholas S. Simonds, 21, buried the body a few hundred yards from his house.

“We are investigating to see if it was a justifiable homicide. Some of what we have uncovered does implicate the deceased as the aggressor,” said Loughren.

Investigators say Reynolds told them he was a known drug dealer in the area and that he kept a quantity of marijuana and cash at his house on 476 Pleasant Valley Road, Sherburne.