Authorities in Mississippi have arrested a married couple after investigators searching for an 81-year-old woman uncovered human remains concealed in the backyard of their residence.
Police began investigating over the weekend when a family member contacted the Jackson Police Department to report Carol Ryan missing. She was believed to be at a nursing facility in Brandon, near Jackson, but relatives told officers they had not heard from her for several months, prompting the welfare check.
Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones briefed reporters Tuesday evening, stating that the investigation led detectives to the home where Carol Ryan once lived, now occupied by her 50-year-old son John Ryan and his 48-year-old wife, Samantha Ryan. Police say all three individuals previously shared the residence at one point.
Investigators executed a search warrant on the property, where cadaver dogs alerted authorities to possible human remains beneath the soil. With heavy machinery brought in to assist, officers unearthed a body “wrapped in a tarp that was covered by concrete” from a grave estimated to be six to eight feet deep.
A medical examiner will now work to officially identify the remains and determine cause and manner of death. Chief Jones noted the remains appeared to have been buried “long before” Carol Ryan was reported missing, but did not provide a timeline for how long the body may have been on the property.
Although the missing person case remains open until forensic confirmation is completed, officers moved forward with criminal charges. John Ryan and Samantha Ryan were each arrested on a single count of desecration of a human corpse.
Court records show John Ryan is being held at the Hinds County Jail on a $100,000 bond, while Samantha Ryan is detained on a $75,000 bond.
Law enforcement officials emphasized the investigation is active, and additional charges could follow if emerging evidence supports further criminal allegations.
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