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Dr. Rebecca Wilson, assistant coordinator of
University of Tennessee Forensic
Anthropological Department in Knoxville,
works in the flagged area where excavation
of remains occurred. (Photo Courtesy of
Coroner Steve Cantrell)
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation,
Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, and
Carroll County Coroner Steve Cantrell began
a joint investigation Wednesday, January 9,
after human skeletal remains were found in a
low-lying, partially dry creek, just outside
the city limits of Atwood.
Authorities do not yet know how long the
remains have been in the creek, but
speculate the person died one year or less
ago, according to John Mehr, special agent
in charge with the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation. Some of the remains were
found in the creek and some nearby, the
agent said.
On Friday, the remains had been identified
as female, according to Mehr, who would not
comment on the age or race of the person.
“We’re looking at an individual that we
believe it may be,” said Mehr, who noted
there are several persons missing around
West Tennessee.
The agent confirmed the individual had been
reported to authorities as missing.
A resident who lives near the creek area
called the sheriff’s department just after 4
p.m. Wednesday to report that he had found
the remains.
Cantrell arrived on the scene and contacted
the assistant coordinator of University of
Tennessee Forensic Anthropological
Department in Knoxville, who stated members
of her department would travel to Carroll
County to excavate the remains.
Yellow crime tape surrounds the low-lying
creek near Atwood where a property owner
discovered skeletal remains Wednesday.
(Photo Courtesy of Coroner Steve Cantrell)
On Thursday, Dr. Rebecca Wilson and her
assistant, Donna McCarthy, arrived and
collected the remains to take back to
Knoxville.
Herb Murphy, certified diver with the
Carroll County Rescue Squad, was also on the
scene and helped with the excavation.
The anthropologists will carefully examine
the remains and compare to information
available concerning missing persons, said
Cantrell.
Included among area persons listed as
missing in recent months is Jenessa Lindsey
of Milan. On August 6, 2007, an anonymous
caller issued a report to a Milan police
officer concerning the whereabouts of
Lindsey, age 34. Lindsey, a white female
with reddish hair, was reported missing
after a complaint about a welfare check.
Milan Police Department issued a BOLO (be on
the lookout) for Ms. Lindsey, who was last
seen wearing blue jeans, a tee shirt and a
backpack.
MPD officers interviewed those who were
known to be with Ms. Lindsey before her
disappearance, and witnesses said she left
in good spirits.
Ironically, Jenessa Lindsey is the
sister-in-law of Janie Sue Lindsey, 56, of
Atwood, who was reported missing on Oct. 10,
2004 and is now classified as an “endangered
missing adult.”
Janie Sue Lindsey was last seen at the
Murphy USA gas station next to the Wal-Mart
Super center near Veterans Drive in
Huntingdon at approximately 6 p.m. Oct. 10.
She was driving a 1983 white, four-door
Lincoln Town Car with a burgundy vinyl top.
The car was found abandoned three days later
near the intersection of Grooms Road and
Bobbitt Road between Huntingdon and Camden
in Carroll County. |
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