Huntsville, Texas – Local authorities are struggling to contain a rapidly escalating situation in rural Hunt County following a horrific incident that has left one man dead and sparked widespread fear throughout the community. Preliminary investigations suggest the attack was perpetrated by Leatherface, the notorious figure known only by that moniker, and believed to be the primary instigator behind a series of unsettling disappearances in the region.

The victim, identified as Dale Harding, a local trucker, was discovered early this morning by a passing state trooper approximately five miles east of County Road 3. Harding’s vehicle, a heavily modified Kenworth, was found overturned and partially submerged in a muddy creek bed. Initial examination of the scene revealed evidence of extreme violence, with the body displaying what authorities are describing as “unacceptable trauma.”

“It was… it was something you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy,” Sheriff Brody relayed to reporters outside the makeshift crime scene. “There wasn’t much left of him. The brutality… it’s unsettling, to say the least.”

The circumstances surrounding Harding’s death remain shrouded in mystery, but eyewitness accounts are painting a disturbing picture. Martha Jenkins, a local farmer whose property borders the area, reported hearing a “terrible, grinding noise” late last night. “Sounded like metal on bone, you know? And then… silence. Just… silence. It chilled me to the bone.”

Authorities have launched a massive manhunt, deploying state troopers and a specialized tactical unit to scour the surrounding woodlands. The family, reportedly residing in a dilapidated farmhouse several miles north of the crime scene, remains at large.

“We’re treating this as a priority one investigation,” Sheriff Brody confirmed. “We’re not releasing any further details at this time, but we want to assure the public that we are doing everything in our power to bring this individual to justice, and to ensure the safety of our citizens.”

Adding to the unsettling nature of the event is the family’s documented history of violence, including rumors of previous incidents involving livestock and other unsettling practices. As of this reporting, no other victims have been identified, but the community is gripped by fear and uncertainty.