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Independence, MO —
A kayaker discovered the skeletal remains of a human hand in the Little Blue River in eastern Independence Monday afternoon.
After the boater discovered the hand in the river at 3 p.m., Independence police began searching the area for other remains. The hand was found in the river near the Little Blue Trace Trail that follows the river, just off Little Blue Parkway about a mile south of the intersection of Truman Road and north of Necessary Road.
“The hand was in the water, but the water level was low enough where the person said they could see the hand,” police spokesman Tom Gentry said. “It’s in a remote area near the trail, but it was not visible from the walking trail.”
Independence police were assisted by several law enforcement organizations, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Water Patrol and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Gentry said the Jackson County medical examiner was on the scene in addition to Independence’s forensics team to do DNA testing on the hand.
Gentry would not say how long the hand had been there or if it was the hand of an adult or a child.
“It’s probably been there awhile, but who knows?” he said. “We really don’t know too much at this point.”
When asked if it was an entire hand, Gentry replied, “Pretty much.”
Gentry said he was not told of any clothing or jewelry found on or near the hand.
The investigation would continue tonight and into tomorrow at least, Gentry said.
“We’re searching a large area,” Gentry said. “We’re going to hold the scene at least overnight. When daylight returns we’ll resume the investigation and probably bring out the cadaver dogs to see if we can find anything else.”
The medical examiner will take custody of the hand after the place where it was found is documented.
“We’re searching records of anyone reported to be missing to see if that will help determine who this is,” Gentry said.
Summer Shipp’s remains were found along the banks of the Little Blue River in October 2007, but Gentry refused to speculate if the hand might be related to that case. Two fishermen found her skull less than a mile from a park shelter near Missouri 78 and Missouri 7 and other remains were discovered later along with some clothes. Shipp was reported missing in 2004 while conducting door-to-door surveys in Independence. That case remains unsolved.
In March, police unsuccessfully searched the area near Centerpoint Medical Center and along the Little Blue Trace for a 28-year-old man with diminished mental capabilities. That man, Christopher K. Porter, had been reported missing, and has not been located.
A kayaker discovered the skeletal remains of a human hand in the Little Blue River in eastern Independence Monday afternoon.
After the boater discovered the hand in the river at 3 p.m., Independence police began searching the area for other remains. The hand was found in the river near the Little Blue Trace Trail that follows the river, just off Little Blue Parkway about a mile south of the intersection of Truman Road and north of Necessary Road.
“The hand was in the water, but the water level was low enough where the person said they could see the hand,” police spokesman Tom Gentry said. “It’s in a remote area near the trail, but it was not visible from the walking trail.”
Independence police were assisted by several law enforcement organizations, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Water Patrol and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Gentry said the Jackson County medical examiner was on the scene in addition to Independence’s forensics team to do DNA testing on the hand.
Gentry would not say how long the hand had been there or if it was the hand of an adult or a child.
“It’s probably been there awhile, but who knows?” he said. “We really don’t know too much at this point.”
When asked if it was an entire hand, Gentry replied, “Pretty much.”
Gentry said he was not told of any clothing or jewelry found on or near the hand.
The investigation would continue tonight and into tomorrow at least, Gentry said.
“We’re searching a large area,” Gentry said. “We’re going to hold the scene at least overnight. When daylight returns we’ll resume the investigation and probably bring out the cadaver dogs to see if we can find anything else.”
The medical examiner will take custody of the hand after the place where it was found is documented.
“We’re searching records of anyone reported to be missing to see if that will help determine who this is,” Gentry said.
Summer Shipp’s remains were found along the banks of the Little Blue River in October 2007, but Gentry refused to speculate if the hand might be related to that case. Two fishermen found her skull less than a mile from a park shelter near Missouri 78 and Missouri 7 and other remains were discovered later along with some clothes. Shipp was reported missing in 2004 while conducting door-to-door surveys in Independence. That case remains unsolved.
In March, police unsuccessfully searched the area near Centerpoint Medical Center and along the Little Blue Trace for a 28-year-old man with diminished mental capabilities. That man, Christopher K. Porter, had been reported missing, and has not been located.
