MONTEREY — Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested two Natchez men Wednesday in connection with the death of a Monterey man last year.

George E. Byrd, 26, 422 Dumas Drive, Apt. B., was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder and Elijah Hoggatt, 40, 2 Saragossa Apt. B., was arrested on a charge of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder in connection with the death of Wisner native John Perritt.

Perritt was found dead at his residence Sept. 22, 2014, where his body had apparently been for some time, CPSO Spokesman Vernon Stevens said.

CPSO Investigator Phillip Webber said Byrd has been a suspect for some time and a warrant for his arrest was issued after receiving credible information linking Byrd to the crime.

Byrd knew the victim and the murder was not a random act, Webber said.

Webber said the investigation is ongoing as more arrests are possible.

An alert was issued Sept. 23, for a 2014 black Ford Fusion that police believed was a point of interest in the investigation.

The Fusion was later identified as Perritt’s car, which was found by Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies in Natchez.

The ACSO processed parts of the car in September for any potential fingerprints, DNA and blood samples.

CPSO Sheriff Kenneth Hedrick said investigators worked diligently on solving the murder of Perritt.

“I am extremely proud of the CPSO investigators and deputies involved in this investigation,” Hedrick said. “They have aggressively pursued every clue and piece of evidence available.”