Police say a body at the vacant Rancho Motel on east Kearney in Springfield is now a homicide investigation.
Officers responded to the motel around 4:00 p.m. Saturday.
They identify the victim as 63-year-old James M. Simmons, from Arkansas.
The Rancho Motel was permanently closed before the death.
Police say the body showed what appeared to be injuries from being struck several times with an object.
No suspect has been identified, and police ask anyone who has information about the case to call the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).
