EASTON - The Talbot County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an individual found along the roadside on Rigbylot Road in Easton. A 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged in the case.

On Saturday, Jan. 14, at approximately 1 p.m., deputies from the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the area of Rigbylot Road about two-tenths of a mile southeast of Royal Oak Road (Maryland Route 329) for a report of a deceased person lying along the roadside. When deputies arrived, they discovered a deceased Hispanic male laying on the ground a short distance from the road. Detectives with the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office, Criminal Investigations Division responded to assume the investigation.

The deceased is a 33-year-old Easton man. He was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy. The results of the autopsy are pending.

The person has been identified; however, detectives had not been able to contact next of kin at the time of their announcement. His identity was withheld until next of kin were located and notified.

Investigation revealed the deceased had been at a residence on South Aurora Street in Easton with several individuals in the early morning hours of Jan. 14. Detectives have identified and interviewed all of the individuals who were with the deceased that evening. Based on those interviews, detectives have charged an Easton man responsible for the victim’s death.

Josue Martinez-Villatoro has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, reckless endangerment and unauthorized disposal of a body. Martinez-Villatoro was transported to Talbot County Central Booking facility for processing and an initial appearance before a District Court commissioner. Martinez-Villatoro was ordered held without bond and will have a bail review in the near future in Talbot County District Court.

The Talbot County Sheriff’s Office was assisted throughout this investigation by local, state and federal partners to include members of the Easton Police Department, Criminal Investigation Division, Maryland State Police, Crime Scene Unit, Talbot County Narcotics Task Force, Ocean City Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office at 410-822-1020, by email at sheriff@talbotcountymd.gov, on Facebook at Talbot County Sheriff’s Office or on talbotsheriff.org.