Patricia Willis, [REMAINS DISCOVERED] From Birmingham Eastern Landfill Since 03/18/08

[Grande]

Updated: Birmingham eastern landfill searched for missing Public Works employee
Posted by Birmingham News staff March 18, 2008 7:49 PM

Birmingham police and other city workers are searching the Eastern Area Landfill tonight for a missing Public Works Department employee.

The missing worker was identified as Patricia Willis, 42. Police said Willis was last seen about 11 a.m. and co-workers reported her missing about 1 p.m. today.

Police spokesman Lt. Henry Irby said Willis could have left the landfill area, but confirmed the search was confined to the landfill, located off Alton Drive, east of Interstate 459 in eastern Birmingham, adjacent to Trussville.

The search includes police, city fire and rescue crews, public works employees, and city emergency management officials. About 8 p.m., officials brought in additional lights and a truck with extra shovels to aid with the search.

Officials would not confirm that they suspected the woman might be buried in the landfill. Police found the woman's car at the landfill, but had it towed from the landfill during the evening.

Police described Willis, a Birmingham resident, as a black woman, 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing about 265 pounds. They said she has brown eyes, gray/black hair and a medium complexion. She was last seen wearing a black work-type uniform.

Anyone with information about Willis was asked to contact Birmingham police at 254-0800.

Toraine Norris

[Grande]

Police Search for Woman Missing in Eastern Area Landfill
Last Edited: Tuesday, 18 Mar 2008, 10:30 PM CDT

http://i29.tinypic.com/1t06d3.jpg
Patricia Willis (FOX6 WBRC-TV MyFoxAL, video)

The Birmingham police department needs the public’s help locating a 42-year-old woman who they say disappeared at her job site at the Eastern Area Landfill on Tuesday. Patricia Willis is described as a black female, 5’6’ tall, and 265 lbs with brown eyes, black/grey hair and a medium complexion.

She was last seen wearing her black work uniform at the landfill located at 2787 Alton Drive.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 254-0800.

http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6069386&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

[Grande]

Woman Goes Missing in City Landfill

A search continues for a woman at the city landfill. Searchers are looking for 42-year-old Patricia Willis. Willis is an employee at the landfill and she was last seen at work around 11:00 Tuesday morning. When employees at the landfill could not find her for several hours they contacted authorities. Police, fire and rescue crews, and EMA officials began searching the landfill for Willis, basically using equipment to dig through several feet of trash. Authorities are not saying if there is any evidence to make them believe she is buried in the landfill. They say the search is underway just in case. Lieutenant Henry Irby says foul play is not suspected. Irby ask anyone with information about Willis to call police.

http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6071484&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

[Grande]

Birmingham Authorities Search Landfill For Missing Worker
Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 - 10:28 AM Updated: 12:44 PM

http://i26.tinypic.com/2rqdo2q.jpg

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Birmingham police and other city workers were searching for a missing Public Works Department employee at the Eastern Area Landfill.

The woman was identified as 42-year-old Patricia Willis. Police said she was last seen around 11 a.m. Tuesday, and co-workers reported her missing around 1 p.m., The Birmingham News reported on its Web site tonight.

Police spokesman Lieutenant Henry Irby said the search was confined to the landfill in eastern Birmingham.

The search includes police, city fire and rescue crews, public works employees, and city emergency management officials. Officials brought in additional lights and a truck with extra shovels around 8 p.m. to aid with the search.

Officials wouldn't confirm that they thought the woman might be buried in the landfill. Police found her car there but had it towed away during the evening.

http://www.nbc13.com/gulfcoastwest/vtm/news.apx.-content-articles-VTM-2008-03-19-0005.html

[Grande]

Police enlist public's help in missing person's case
3/20/2008, 7:44 a.m. CDT
The Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The search for a missing Birmingham city employee continued overnight. Police have turned to the public for assistance in finding 42-year-old Patricia Willis. She was last seen Tuesday at approximately 11 a.m. at her job site at the Eastern Area Landfill on Alton Drive.

Willis is a black female, 5 feet 6 inches tall, she weighs 265 pounds, has brown eyes, black/grey hair and a medium complexion. Willis was wearing a black work uniform.

Anyone with information pertaining to the whereabouts of Patricia Willis is encouraged to call the Birmingham Police Department at (205) 254-0800.

http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-35/1206017345274000.xml&storylist=alabamanews

[Roamer]

They said on the B'ham news this morning that all her personal items were in the truck she normally drives at work, so whatever happened, it doesn't sound like she just walked off. They're still digging this morning.

[KittyMom]

OMGosh!!!! I wonder if they accidently buried her.

[Roamer]

My understanding from news reports here is that she was working by herself. That could be wrong, but that's the way it sounds to me, and I'm sure they're thinking she fell into something.

[KittyMom]

My understanding from news reports here is that she was working by herself. That could be wrong, but that's the way it sounds to me, and I'm sure they're thinking she fell into something.

I guess this landfill is different than what I've seen. Ours is a building for sorting and then different areas for different types of items. The degradeable stuff is then "rotated" by tractor-like machines. Its pretty much a mound of garbage.

[AU_Grad]

http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6086789&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Last Edited: Thursday, 20 Mar 2008, 1:08 PM CDT
Created: Thursday, 20 Mar 2008, 1:08 PM CDT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC-TV MyFoxAL.com) --

Remains Found While Searching for Landfill Worker

The Jefferson County Coroner has confirmed that human remains have been found at the Birmingham City Landfill. The remains were found on Thursday morning. Currently, the remains have not been confirmed to be the remains of missing landfill worker Patricia Willis. Willis went missing on Tuesday and a search has been underway for the last 2 days.

[Grande]

:1222423: For Patricia's family and friends.

[Roamer]

I didn't see the news at noon.


RIP Patricia :1222423:

[Audie]

So, did she work in the office or outside near where they dump? They said her vehicle was at the landfill, but where? No foul play, so it would be an accident or maybe suicide? Strange either way. And sad. :1222423:

[KittyMom]

I was thinking about this poor woman and although 42 is relatively young, she may've had a heart attack and not been able to call for help. I hope her family get some closure soon.

[Roamer]

I'll catch the local news at 5 and let you guys know what they're saying.

[Roamer]

According to the local news, they found bones, tissue, pieces of clothing, etc., under more than 700 lbs of dirt. Police say it could take up to 3 days to do the necessary testing to see if this is Patricia, or if they have a new mystery on their hands.

However, the remains were found about 10 last night. Her family was notified and were met there by the mayor, police, and the coroner.

I haven't looked for a news link yet, the above is just what they said on Bham TV news.

[KittyMom]

According to the local news, they found bones, tissue, pieces of clothing, etc., under more than 700 lbs of dirt. Police say it could take up to 3 days to do the necessary testing to see if this is Patricia, or if they have a new mystery on their hands.

However, the remains were found about 10 last night. Her family was notified and were met there by the mayor, police, and the coroner.

I haven't looked for a news link yet, the above is just what they said on Bham TV news.

Oh my! This sounds awful.

[Roamer]

http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/0308/505780.html

Remains Identified as Missing Woman

Police on Saturday identified human remains recovered at a Birmingham landfill as missing public works employee Patricia Willis.

Willis, 42, who worked as a truck driver at the Eastern Area Landfill, has been missing since midday Tuesday. Partial human remains were recovered Wednesday evening, but the search continued. Authorities called off the search Friday night after finding more remains, police said.

Willis has four children - 11, 19 and 12-year-old twins, said her common-law husband, Eric Roney.

Authorities said one theory is that Willis might have fallen into the landfill or been accidentally pushed in by a loader.

Don Lupo, director of the Mayor's Office of Citizens Assistance, said Willis liked working at the landfill and was there by choice.

"She liked moving the dirt," he said. "We've lost somebody that did a good job for us."

Authorities said they have video of Willis driving on the landfill property, and it appears she parked her truck near where a Wood Fruitticher wholesale truck had parked to discard fruit. Such fruit is often dumped there when it has expired for sale, but is still good.

There are strict instructions for employees not to forage for produce, Lupo said, but it happens on occasion.

Roney said the work truck was parked there for a couple of hours, and heavy machinery continued to run during that time, which he believes was a mistake.

"They shouldn't run machines when you see a person is out of their vehicle in the area. I'm hurt from that," Roney said. "If it had been done that way, she could have lived under the trash for a period of time."

[ferretplay]

:1222423: That is so sad.

[Grande]

City Of Birmingham To Investigate Landfill Worker's Death
Monday, Mar 24, 2008 - 10:19 AM

The City of Birmingham reports that it will launch an immediate investigation into the death of Public Works employee Patricia Willis.

"My heartfelt sympathies and prayers go out to this family. It is a tragedy to lose a loved one, especially a mother. We will investigate every aspect of this tragedy," Mayor Larry Langford said.

On Saturday, the Jefferson County Coroner's office confirmed the identity of Willis, 42, from human remains found at the Eastern Area Landfill, where Willis worked.

City workers had reported Willis missing Tuesday after she was last seen around 11 a.m.

http://www.nbc13.com/gulfcoastwest/vtm/news.apx.-content-articles-VTM-2008-03-24-0003.html