Private Investigator Suspects Foul Play in Mysterious Texas Death

Feb. 27, 2014— -- A private investigator suspects foul play in a Texas man's mysterious death, alleging that authorities botched the initial investigation.

The death of Alfred Wright, 28, has upended the small town of Jasper, Texas.

Wright had been last seen Nov. 7. He went missing after his truck broke down. He was found dead 19 days later in an area where the police claimed they had already searched.

WATCH: New Allegations in Texas Man's Mysterious Death

At the time, authorities suspected a drug overdose. But his family was skeptical, so they hired a pathologist, as well as private investigator Chuck Foreman.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Foreman said police failed to properly investigate Wright's disappearance and death.

"They have not interviewed the family, they have not searched the truck, they just didn't do the due diligence that you demand from law enforcement," Foreman said.

Officials at the Sabine County Sherriff's Office said this morning they had no one available to comment on Foreman's accusations.

WATCH: Family Hires PI to Investigate Mysterious Death

Foreman's efforts have uncovered flaws in the investigation, he said. For one, Wright's body was found in an "unnatural" position," Foreman said.

Additionally, the personal trainer's family says he didn't do drugs. But authorities have argued that Wright had cocaine and crystal meth in his system when he died.

Foreman is also looking into the possibility that Wright might have known Cindy Maddox, the adult daughter of the sheriff who worked the case. The two reportedly knew each other from physical therapy work, allegations that Maddox reportedly denies.

A second autopsy commissioned by the family concluded that he sustained serious and gruesome injuries, suggesting foul play.

Authorities ruled out homicide in the initial autopsy.

"When a person is found at 28 years old unclothed and in the woods, how can you not treat it as a criminal investigation?" Foreman said.

ABC News chief legal affairs anchor Dan Abrams said the case should have been passed to state authorities.

"What's troubling is how quickly the authorities, the sheriff, dismissed the idea that this was not a potential homicide, before the body was even found," Abrams said.

"Just because someone runs off and acts like he may have been on drugs doesn't mean you give up searching and assume there was no foul play."