Body Found In Shallow Grave

[chicoliving]

TITUS, Ala. -- Elmore County authorities are trying to identify a body found bound in a tarp and buried in a shallow grave at Lake Jordan.

~snip~

Authorities have not determined if the remains are those of Tracy Kegley, an Elmore County woman who was reported missing almost ten years ago.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13737422/detail.html

[chicoliving]

LAKE JORDAN -- A property owner in the Titus area made a grisly discovery Sunday morning when he found human remains bound in a tarp and buried in a shallow grave.

The man, who isn't a suspect in the case, called the authorities about 10 a.m., said Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin.

"We haven't been able to ascertain the race, sex or how long the remains have been there," Franklin said. "But they have obviously been there for a long time. Once it was confirmed that there was remains, we stopped what we were doing and contacted forensics. We wanted to preserve any evidence that may be inside the tarp."

~snip~

The shallow grave was about 18 inches deep and 5 to 6 feet long. It was about 40 feet from the water, the sheriff said. It appears the body had been wrapped inside the tarp, and then a small rope was used to tie the tarp around the body.

The remains didn't appear to include any clothing or shoes, he said.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070723/NEWS/707230313/1001

[englishleigh]

This is very near me but I'd never heard of Tracy Kegley. I need to do a missing persons search from the adjoining counties and see who else comes up. I wonder why this sheriff can say he doesn't think it's Tracy?

[SeriouslySearching]

Hopefully, they can determine who she is and return her home to her waiting family. Bless their hearts. It was a long wait.

[englishleigh]

http://community.dps.alabama.gov/Pages/wfAlertListing.aspx?Type=20&Status=5

Traci Kegley is the last listing.

[MagicRose99]

This is very near me but I'd never heard of Tracy Kegley. I need to do a missing persons search from the adjoining counties and see who else comes up. I wonder why this sheriff can say he doesn't think it's Tracy?

He didn't say he doesn't think it's Tracy, he said that they had "...not determined if the remains are those of Tracy Kegley".

Being bones, they'll have to identify by dental or DNA...

[englishleigh]

He didn't say he doesn't think it's Tracy, he said that they had "...not determined if the remains are those of Tracy Kegley".

Being bones, they'll have to identify by dental or DNA...

He said he told Tracy's father "he didn't think it was Tracy."

[suzannec4444]

Hi
Yes,Please keep us posted on this.Especially how long the remains had been there.Can someone please post a link to a map of the area and what it is near?

suzanne

[chicoliving]

Video at the link....titled Exclusive: Elmore County sheriff on the record about buried body.

http://www.wsfa.com/

Don't think its Tracy but not saying why not. Said growing evidence leans toward it not being Tracy. Montgomery County also very interested in this as they have missing persons.
Skeletal remains had been covered in lime. Saying its possible that the body was buried elsewhere then moved to this location.

No obvious signs of blunt force trauma....ID will come from dental records possibly tonight.

[cheko1]

I'm sure there are families in the area with someone missing who are awaiting her return. God bless them!!!

[englishleigh]

Chico, thanks for the update, I haven't had a chance to check anything in the last couple days or watch the local news here for any new info. I would bet that Montgomery County is also very anxious b/c Montgomery always has several missing people and Lake Jordan/Elmore County is right next door to them. We are about 2 counties away but in the same area of the state.

[englishleigh]

Video at the link....titled Exclusive: Elmore County sheriff on the record about buried body.

http://www.wsfa.com/

Don't think its Tracy but not saying why not. Said growing evidence leans toward it not being Tracy. Montgomery County also very interested in this as they have missing persons.
Skeletal remains had been covered in lime. Saying its possible that the body was buried elsewhere then moved to this location.

No obvious signs of blunt force trauma....ID will come from dental records possibly tonight.

Makes me think there may be some evidence with the body that it is likely male...maybe some clothing or something....if they can say it's probably not Tracy.

[concernedperson]

Makes me think there may be some evidence with the body that it is likely male...maybe some clothing or something....if they can say it's probably not Tracy.

Leigh, I think they said it was a female because of the size and the earlier report said no shoes or clothing. The lime put on the body shows that whoever did this really didn't want any evidence to be forthcoming.

[englishleigh]

Leigh, I think they said it was a female because of the size and the earlier report said no shoes or clothing. The lime put on the body shows that whoever did this really didn't want any evidence to be forthcoming.

Oh, duh...ok. That's right. And yes, I thought that, too, about the lime. I do wonder why they are so certain it's not Tracy.

[concernedperson]

Oh, duh...ok. That's right. And yes, I thought that, too, about the lime. I do wonder why they are so certain it's not Tracy.

That part has me stumped too. Without forensics then they can't be sure how long the person has been deceased unless the tarp she was wrapped in had some sort of marking that identified the year.

[chicoliving]

30-year old Tracey Kegley vanished some 10 years ago but there is growing evidence the skeleton found in a shallow grave on the eastern side of Lake Jordan is not her.

"Some things have come out that would indicate it's not her," said Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin.

~snip~

The sheriff says they are fairly certain the remains are those of a female, average height but it's still unclear how old she was. The skeleton was covered with 3 inches of lime and early indications are the body had been there for at least 5 years.

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=6834547

[Salem]

I'm not real familar with how lime works, but is it possible the body has been in the tarp less than 5 years and only appears to be that old because the lime has "sped" up the process?

Any chance this could be Lisa Stiebeck? In a tarp, where no will find her? Would lime eventually destroy the bones?

Salem

[englishleigh]

I'm not real familar with how lime works, but is it possible the body has been in the tarp less than 5 years and only appears to be that old because the lime has "sped" up the process?

Any chance this could be Lisa Stiebeck? In a tarp, where no will find her? Would lime eventually destroy the bones?

Salem

Who is Lisa Stiebeck, Salem?

[concernedperson]

I'm not real familar with how lime works, but is it possible the body has been in the tarp less than 5 years and only appears to be that old because the lime has "sped" up the process?

Any chance this could be Lisa Stiebeck? In a tarp, where no will find her? Would lime eventually destroy the bones?

Salem

I did some research on the effect of lime on human decomposition but couldn't find much. One paper I read suggested that lime was to be used as a preservative in burial but didn't have an immense effect, using buried piglets at different levels and it wasn't a good trial test.

So, my alternative theory on this is smell. We used to have a house with basement crawlspace that was always dank. Lime was used to take away the dank smell and it was applied at a very thick level. The body must have been in an advanced state of decomposition but the assailants were worried about it being found so they had to move it. This suggests to me that the body was moved a considerable distance due to the amount of lime inside the tarp. If someone was traveling with a decomposing body it would be hard to avoid the odor so other methods would/could be employed.

[docwho3]

According to a webpage I read recently:
Lime will aide in the decomposition of the flesh and in time will make the bones become like thin brittle eggshell material that can easily be crushed.

[concernedperson]

Bumping. Any news on the remains found at Lake Jordan?

[chicoliving]

I keep looking but have found nothing.

[englishleigh]

Here's the local TV station website from Montgomery, AL...keep watching here for news. I looked but did not see anything on there today.

http://wsfa.com/

[dark_shadows]

This is heartbreaking. My good friend was murdered and found in a shallow grave. His murderer or murderers were never found.
Every time I see the word or hear the word "shallow", I think of him. No matter how that word is used, will the pain and heartbreak ever stop? Thank-you for listening to me.
Respectfully,
dark_shadows

[TallCoolOne]

This is heartbreaking. My good friend was murdered and found in a shallow grave. His murderer or murderers were never found.
Every time I see the word or hear the word "shallow", I think of him. No matter how that word is used, will the pain and heartbreak ever stop? Thank-you for listening to me.
Respectfully,
dark_shadowsdark_shadows, I am so very sorry to know this. I can't imagine how that would absolutely haunt you. And to know that the person/people responsible were never brought to justice makes it even more so.


Salem, are you perhaps making reference to Lisa Stebic, missing from Plainfield, IL since May?

[Angie4b1g]

At least 5 years, wow. Hopefully we can find out who this person was and give her family the peace they've been seeking.

[SewingDeb]

I'm so sorry to here about your friend, Dark Shadows.

[MagicRose99]

This is the latest article I can find... it's dated 7/27

<snip>
“Forensic pathologists are telling us it is not likely the remains of Tracy Kegley,” Franklin pointed out. “There are a few inconsistencies found with this body that were not consistent with that of Ms. Kegley.”

The National Crime Information Center currently has seven missing persons from Elmore County in its system, Franklin said.

“We have eliminated all but one of those persons,” he said.

“After this, we can confirm whether or not it is someone from our county.”

Franklin did say forensic pathologists believe the remains are those of a white female between the ages of 30 and 40, and of average height.

http://www.thewetumpkaherald.com/articles/2007/07/27/news/news02.txt

[AdoraBlue]

http://www.zoominfo.com/people/McGhee_Melinda_432329867.aspx
http://boards.crimelibrary.com/showthread.php?t=281036

[ocean]

is there any mention tod. of the remains? I know it said a long time....months or years?

[chicoliving]

is there any mention tod. of the remains? I know it said a long time....months or years?

It looks like the body had been in the grave for at least five years, Franklin pointed out.

“More than likely it happened after 1991 because the landowner was not a permanent resident of the home on the property after that time,” Franklin said. “The yard was overgrown and leaves were covering up the yard. When the landowner started doing yard work, he noticed a piece of tarp and pulled on it. That’s when he discovered the remains.”

http://www.thewetumpkaherald.com/articles/2007/07/27/news/news02.txt

TY MagicRose!!

[ocean]

thankyou CL

[MagicRose99]

It looks like the body had been in the grave for at least five years, Franklin pointed out.

“More than likely it happened after 1991 because the landowner was not a permanent resident of the home on the property after that time,” Franklin said. “The yard was overgrown and leaves were covering up the yard. When the landowner started doing yard work, he noticed a piece of tarp and pulled on it. That’s when he discovered the remains.”

http://www.thewetumpkaherald.com/articles/2007/07/27/news/news02.txt

TY MagicRose!!

You're welcome! Just wish there was a more up-to-date article for us...

[chicoliving]

You're welcome! Just wish there was a more up-to-date article for us...

I know! One of the first reports sounded like an ID via dentals was forthcoming....kinda wondered about that, like how could they be so sure that there would be an ID so soon? Just because there are dental records to compare to this poor woman didn't mean that there would necessarily be a match. Now, without any new info it looks like there was no match to dentals on record of missing women in the area.

[dark_shadows]

dark_shadows, I am so very sorry to know this. I can't imagine how that would absolutely haunt you. And to know that the person/people responsible were never brought to justice makes it even more so.


Salem, are you perhaps making reference to Lisa Stebic, missing from Plainfield, IL since May?
Dear TallCoolOne,:blowkiss:
I appreciate your post very much, thank-you.
Much Love and Respect,
dark_shadows

[KR2tonenow]

Chico, thanks for the update, I haven't had a chance to check anything in the last couple days or watch the local news here for any new info. I would bet that Montgomery County is also very anxious b/c Montgomery always has several missing people and Lake Jordan/Elmore County is right next door to them. We are about 2 counties away but in the same area of the state.

Is there any indication as to why there are so many missing persons in that area?

[dark_shadows]

I'm so sorry to here about your friend, Dark Shadows.
To very dear SewingDeb,:angel:
I thank-you with all of my heart for your post.
So much Love and Respect to you,
dark_shadows

[chicoliving]

~snip~

This week after 5 months worth of testing LSU pathologists in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, completed their 20-page report. First, the bad news for Elmore County detectives.

"They couldn't identify the remains," Franklin said.

But homicide investigators have at least an idea the remains are those of a female.

"We now know she was between 5'2" and 5'7". Still don't know if she was white, black or native American. The pathologists do believe she had been buried there anywhere from 3 months prior to the bones being found and 4 years," said Franklin.

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=7521336