Missouri newspaper calls on hunters to watch for human skeletal remains amid Lindsey Watts case
Police lieutenant explains what to do if possible remains are found
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) -Hunters are being asked to stay alert for what could be human skeletal remains while in the woods and remote areas this hunting season amid the disappearance of Lindsey Watts.
The Edina Sentinel issued an alert on Thursday in partnership with the Missouri Press Association.
The outlet was the first to report on the disappearance of Watts. She was reported missing from her home in Edina, Mo., in May and has not been seen since.
Echo Menges of the Edina Sentinel said early conversations about the disappearance included the possibility that Watts is outdoors.
“One of the conversations we had early on in her disappearance was the reality that if she is somewhere out in the elements... that we might be waiting for things like harvest season to really have enough people out covering enough area to be able to find her,” Menges said.
Menges said the Sentinel spoke with the Watts family, local law enforcement and a medical examiner before publishing the alert.
Hunters who find what they think are skeletal remains should treat the area like a crime scene.
“If you come across human remains, it is a crime scene, and you do not want to disturb anything or touch anything,” said Lt. John Loe of the Springfield Police Department.
Hunters should be aware of their surroundings and look for notable landmarks to tell law enforcement where they are.
“Think about dropping a GPS pin on your phone so you can find it later and then call 911 and again, if it’s some sort of deep woods you may have to walk out to the nearest road or intersection to meet law enforcement there to guide them in,” Loe said.
Hunters everywhere are asked to stay alert for anything unusual. What they find could help investigators in a missing person case like Lindsey Watts.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there are currently 1,060 active missing person cases in the state of Missouri.
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