Remains found near I-565, Huntsville, AL 5/6/08

[Mzeez]

Surveyors Find Human Remains Near I-565
May 6, 2008
NewsChannel 19's Ellis Eskew reports:

It all began in some woods near I-565 between County Line and Greenbrier Roads, on Old Highway 20.

Huntsville city surveyors were out surveying the newly-annexed land in Limestone County.

About 200 yards back into the woods, they stumbled across something odd.

"They came across human remains. We were notified and responded," said Michael Leftwich, a homicide investigator. "The deputy coroner for Limestone County came out and examined the scene for the remains."

According to police, the brush was so thick in the woods, they had to leave markings going in so they would be able to find their way out again.

They went in with shovels and other equipment and came out several hours later with the remains in bags.

But there are still a lot of unanswered questions.

"Manner of death we do not know yet," said Leftwich. "Cause of death we do not know yet. Heavily wooded area back there in the back about 200 yards off the street. It appears the remains have been there for some time."

The remains will be sent to the the Department of Forensic Services.
http://www.whnt.com/global/story.asp?s=8281296

[packy]

Hi, Mzeez. Nancy Grace discussed this tonight. Hopefully the can identify this person. I often wonder about Melind McGhee who disappeared from her home one morning in Atmore, AL. But that is pretty far south of where these remains have been found I believe.

[KittyMom]

Lori Slesinski maybe?

[Pauli]

Huntsville is about 250miles from Auburn...

[Mzeez]

I've been looking for updates (nothing yet), wishful thinking on my part.
Hard to speculate much with so little known about it. Being close to the highway I suppose it's possible the remains could be from a surrounding area and not necessarily from Alabama.

[Grande]

Published May 07, 2008 10:30 pm - Huntsville Police investigators have sent human remains found just off Interstate 565 in a Huntsville-annexed portion of Limestone County to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to possibly learn identity and cause of death.
Police spokesman Wendell Johnson said city contractors surveying near the five-mile marker discovered bones late afternoon Tuesday.

ID sought for bones discovered near I-565
From staff, wire reports

Huntsville Police investigators have sent human remains found just off Interstate 565 in a Huntsville-annexed portion of Limestone County to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to possibly learn identity and cause of death.

Police spokesman Wendell Johnson said city contractors surveying near the five-mile marker discovered bones late afternoon Tuesday.

“They found the bones on the north side of the highway in some woods,” Johnson said. “They do appear to be human remains. We have no idea how long they’ve been there.

Johnson said because of the extent of decomposition it was impossible to tell the age or gender of the person.

“There were bones and some flesh,” he said. “But it wasn’t like they could make a photo and identify a corpse.”

Johnson said once investigators learn more from pathologists, they will compare the information with any local or regional missing-person files.

Police Captain Lewis Morris said contractors surveying a newly annexed portion of Limestone County found the remains about a mile from the Limestone-Madison county line. The bones were in dense vegetation about 200 yards from the road, Morris said.

http://www.enewscourier.com/local/local_story_128223043.html

[Nut44x4]

"Apparently, somewhere, someone thinks due to these Nancy Grace reports on CNN that this may have national implications. It's causing hardships on our investigators," said Wendell Johnson, Spokesperson for the Huntsville Police Department.

Here's how it causes hardships.
"We've got police agencies, we've got national news agencies calling down here," said Johnson. "Bodies are found all around the country, there are thousands of people who are considered to be missing persons. Now, how this got to be of national interest, we have no idea."
The national media didn't mention the other set of remains in Huntsville that still haven't been identified. A construction worker found the remains in March, while clearing lots in a wooded area off of Meridian Street. Spokesperson Wendell Johnson says the police department got very few calls from other police agencies about this case.
"Not as much as this," said Johnson. "That's why were perplexed. Unless it was just Nancy Grace just coming up with the Peterson case. That's the only conclusion that we can reach," said Johnson.
"We've got two bodies here in Huntsville that have not been identified," NewsChannel 19 asked. "Is there any chance that there's a serial killer in Huntsville?"
"Here again, I'm not going to speculate on that, cause in both cases you had skeletal remains," Johnson replied. "Now remember, someone could go into the woods and anything could happen, you could deal with suicides, homicides, natural causes of death."
"Is the Huntsville Police Department looking for a killer right now?" we asked.
"No," Johnson replied.
"Not at all, since there were two bodies found?" NewsChannel 19 pressed.
"No. First of all, we have not determined the cause of death," Johnson said. "So how can you call it a homicide?"
Right now, both sets of remains are at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, where workers are trying to identify both people.
They are trying to use dental records to determine the identity of the body that was found on Meridian Street.

http://www.whnt.com/global/story.asp?s=8291915

[Isamashii]

Can anyone give me an update on this? How funny that the Huntsville police are NOT looking for any foul play... I wonder if they have contacted Auburn?

[Nut44x4]

I was looking a day or so ago for an update.....nothing!!

[TigressPen]

"Apparently, somewhere, someone thinks due to these Nancy Grace reports on CNN that this may have national implications. It's causing hardships on our investigators," said Wendell Johnson, Spokesperson for the Huntsville Police Department.

Here's how it causes hardships.
"We've got police agencies, we've got national news agencies calling down here," said Johnson. "Bodies are found all around the country, there are thousands of people who are considered to be missing persons. Now, how this got to be of national interest, we have no idea."
The national media didn't mention the other set of remains in Huntsville that still haven't been identified. A construction worker found the remains in March, while clearing lots in a wooded area off of Meridian Street. Spokesperson Wendell Johnson says the police department got very few calls from other police agencies about this case.
"Not as much as this," said Johnson. "That's why were perplexed. Unless it was just Nancy Grace just coming up with the Peterson case. That's the only conclusion that we can reach," said Johnson.
"We've got two bodies here in Huntsville that have not been identified," NewsChannel 19 asked. "Is there any chance that there's a serial killer in Huntsville?"
"Here again, I'm not going to speculate on that, cause in both cases you had skeletal remains," Johnson replied. "Now remember, someone could go into the woods and anything could happen, you could deal with suicides, homicides, natural causes of death."
"Is the Huntsville Police Department looking for a killer right now?" we asked.
"No," Johnson replied.
"Not at all, since there were two bodies found?" NewsChannel 19 pressed.
"No. First of all, we have not determined the cause of death," Johnson said. "So how can you call it a homicide?"
Right now, both sets of remains are at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, where workers are trying to identify both people.
They are trying to use dental records to determine the identity of the body that was found on Meridian Street.

http://www.whnt.com/global/story.asp?s=8291915




I would think he'd be somewhat proud media is interested if the remains can be given a face, that's national attention and a faster identification. Think of all the remains yet unidentified that needs that attenion.

[Isamashii]

I agree. It seems as if deceased, unidentified persons are looked at as an irritation. Sad!! Maybe the 'Doe Foundation' could help with this case.

As a side note: I know that Huntsville isn't right next door to Auburn, but if any of you have been involved with the Lori Ann case, I think this unidentified body should be more closely looked at...

[Lilly]

I agree. It seems as if deceased, unidentified persons are looked at as an irritation. Sad!! Maybe the 'Doe Foundation' could help with this case.

As a side note: I know that Huntsville isn't right next door to Auburn, but if any of you have been involved with the Lori Ann case, I think this unidentified body should be more closely looked at...

I live in N. Alabama and JMO, LE takes care to keep violent crime out of the media. I've heard rumors over the years of a serial killer in Hsv. There have been two instances I know of a report of a body found near a well traveled road, and then the story disappeared. Could be people that have been identified and died of natural causes, or suicide, etc. IDK, it just seems that violent crime is reported on as little as possible to protect the reputation of N. Alabama. The media does report crimes that catch their attention around here, but LE is very quiet about those even. You certainly don't see news conferences or many PO quoted in the press, or looking for information. Like I said, JMO. Maybe I'm blessed to live in an area with very little crime, but I believe a part of that is that the public isn't made aware and these stories just fade away. I'd be very surprised if we hear anything else about these two bodies.

[nicky]

I live in N. Alabama and JMO, LE takes care to keep violent crime out of the media. I've heard rumors over the years of a serial killer in Hsv. There have been two instances I know of a report of a body found near a well traveled road, and then the story disappeared. Could be people that have been identified and died of natural causes, or suicide, etc. IDK, it just seems that violent crime is reported on as little as possible to protect the reputation of N. Alabama. The media does report crimes that catch their attention around here, but LE is very quiet about those even. You certainly don't see news conferences or many PO quoted in the press, or looking for information. Like I said, JMO. Maybe I'm blessed to live in an area with very little crime, but I believe a part of that is that the public isn't made aware and these stories just fade away. I'd be very surprised if we hear anything else about these two bodies.

Thanks Lilly for that, I had never even heard of these 2 until this morning and I live about 1- 1 1/2 hours away. It seems like this area keeps Missing Persons Cases quiet as well. The case that brought me to this website was Jeffrey Stone. My son knew him from school. So sad and tragic that media and citizens don't follow these cases!

[Nut44x4]

This was posted on May 8th .....
Investigation Continues into Human Remains Found Monday



Huntsville, Alabama (May 8, 2008) Investigators with the Huntsville Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit said it could take several weeks to determine the identity and cause of death surrounding the human remains of a skeleton found off Old Highway 20 near I-565 Mile Marker 5. The discovery was made Monday, May 6th, by a survey crew that called Police to the scene.

Spokesman Wendell Johnson said we have no further information to release until the Alabama Department of Forensic Science complete its examination to determine if the remains are a man or woman. Johnson said we are asking the public to please allow this investigation to continue without speculation from national and local news media.

~~~~~~~
Well, it has been 4 months and 3 wks........still no update w/ more info

[packy]

Yeah it sure seems like it's been enough time to give more information. The cases may be old but could also be related to recent cases.

[Nut44x4]

MALE .......
Demographics and Circumstances
Estimated Age: Adult - Pre 40
Race: White
Ethnicity: N/A
Sex: Male
Weight (lbs.): 0, Cannot Estimate
Height (inch): 0, Cannot Estimate
Condition: Partial Skeleton
Probable Year of Death: 0
Est. Postmortem Interval: N/A N/A
DNA Profile Status: Complete - Profile available at state lab
Circumstances of Death: Land surveyors found human remains in a heavily wooded area North of Old Highway 20 near I-565 (between County Line Road and Greenbrier Road).
https://identifyus.org/report.php?p=individual&i=2747

[Nut44x4]

updated with more info
Estimated Age: Adult - Pre 70
Minimum Age: 45 years
Maximum Age: 60 years
Race: White
Ethnicity: N/A
Sex: Male
Weight (lbs.): 0, Cannot Estimate
Height (inch): 72.3, Estimated
Dental Summary: One or More Teeth Present, Filling or Crown Present
Dental Comments: Tooth 8,9,24 are avulsed. Tooth 10,11,30 are fractured.
Skeletal Findings: Shull and Mandible along with about 30 percent of other bones.
https://identifyus.org/report.php?p=individual&i=2747

[Nut44x4]

I agree. It seems as if deceased, unidentified persons are looked at as an irritation. Sad!! Maybe the 'Doe Foundation' could help with this case.

As a side note: I know that Huntsville isn't right next door to Auburn, but if any of you have been involved with the Lori Ann case, I think this unidentified body should be more closely looked at...

Still not listed at 'Doenetwork'
```````````````````````````````
NaMus has now listed the DNA info

Case Report - NamUs UP # 2747
DNA
Complete and entered

also has x-rays of dental info
https://identifyus.org/cases/2747