A multi-agency investigation is launched into the discovery of skeletal remains by a mowing crew Tuesday morning off I-40 in Cumberland County.
Not much information is available in the early stages of the investigation, being conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Criminal Investigation Division unit, Tennessee Medical Examiner’s Office and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department.
Late Tuesday, Sheriff Casey Cox confirmed the discovery and said the remains were sent to the medical’s office for further examination and possible identification. He added investigators were search data bases for missing persons to see if their is a time-line missing person’s report and identifying information that would match what was found.
What is known is Tuesday around 7:45 a.m. a Tennessee Department of Transportation supervisor with a mowing crew discovered human remains in the woods along I-40 in the east lane near the 313 mile marker. A large contingent of THP troopers and CCSO deputies responded to the scene between the Hwy. 127 N. exit and the Plateau Road exit.
The area was marked off with crime scene tape and TBI agents joined the investigators. Travel around the area was slowed but the interstate was not blocked.
At this time, it is not publicly known how long the remains were where they were found, whether the death was natural causes or a homicide and if a homicide, whether a crime took place at the discovery scene or dumped where found.
Updates will be published online and in the Chronicle as information becomes available.