JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ill. — Human remains that were found late March in a wooded area of southern Illinois have been confirmed as those of an Indianapolis woman, police say.
The remains of Keriaye Winfrey, 20, were in woods just outside Mount Vernon, Ill., according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's deputies responded March 21 to the woods west of Davidson Avenue and Veterans Memorial Drive after being called to assist Mount Vernon police with the discovery of human remains. Evidence was recovered that day and again on March 29, once the weather allowed investigators to search a larger area.
Illinois State Police, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office and local fire agencies were also dispatched.
Evidence that was recovered on March 21 led investigators to a possible identity, at which point DNA that was secured was forensically compared with DNA samples provided by Winfrey's family members. The remains were confirmed this week as Winfrey's, the Sheriff's Office said.
The Coroner's Office is still working with a forensic anthropologist to determine the cause and manner of Winfrey's death.
Anyone with more information was urged to contact Jefferson County Sheriff's Detective Captain Wallace at 618-244-8004 or Jefferson County Crime Stoppers at 618-242-TIPS.
The Sheriff's Office offered its condolences to Winfrey's family.
-
Indiana Fever playoff tickets on sale for first home postseason game since 2016
The team will host the No. 6 Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 2 of their best-of-three first-round series.
Push to curb teen gun violence, local organization working to find root causes
As gun violence continues to impact young people in Indianapolis, one organization is working directly with teens to make a change.
Brownsburg community rallies to support two Black teens after racist incident
Over a hundred people lined up outside of Rockstar Pizza to show their support for two teens and prove that racism has no place in their community.
Suspect arrested for threatening hospital employees, staff with firearm
According to police, officers were called to the Hancock Regional Hospital on the report of threats involving a firearm against staff just before 11 a.m.
