Human Remains Found in Desoto County

Desoto County, Ms - Around 10 AM on Tuesday, surveyors inspecting property lines off Highway 301 near Pratt Road in Desoto County discovered human remains.

"It's such a remote area and the ways the remains were found, certainly, it's very easy to say foul play is expected," said County PIO Dick Hackett.

Because the bones were tucked away about a quarter of a mile from the road near a soybean field the suspicion is that someone local knew the spot.

"It tells us whoever placed the body there, knew where they were going," said Desoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco.

The Sheriff also thinks the victim may be from the Desoto County area. At this point, clues are telling them the man or woman was left there 8 to 10 months ago.

Rasco said, "If it's been there a short period of time you're going to find some clothing articles, find shoes and there's not any of that there."

The Sheriff's Office had the Search and Rescue Squad, which includes a K-9 uni,t going over location in and around where the bones were found to see what other evidence they can find. The County Public Information Officer says human remains haven't been found in the county in at least 5 years.

"It's very unusual. Since 1977, since that date, we've only had 4 missing persons," remarked Hackett.

And investigators are now reviewing those missing person's cases to see if there's a match. They're also rushing identification testing by sending the bones to a private lab instead of waiting weeks for results from the state crime lab.

"I just want to find out who it is and give the family closure," added Rasco.