A Mississippi couple has been arrested as authorities investigate the disappearance of an 81-year-old woman and the discovery of “human remains” in the couple’s backyard.
John Ryan, 50, and his wife, Samantha Ryan, 48, were arrested on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and charged with desecrating a human corpse, according to Jackson County public arrest records cited by Fox 11 and WJTV 12.
The arrests come amid a search for John’s mother, 81-year-old Carol Ryan, who was reported missing after another family member said she hadn’t been seen or heard from “in several months,” according to a Dec. 23 Facebook post from the Jackson Police Department (JPD) and a press conference held that same day by Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones.
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During the press conference, Jones said investigators were led to a home in the 200 block of Baybury Lane after initial work on the missing-person case. Authorities obtained a warrant to search the property and brought in excavators to dig in the backyard.
Jones said a body was discovered in a shallow grave, wrapped in “what we believe to be some type of tarp,” with “concrete” also found at the gravesite.
Officials have not confirmed whether the remains belong to Carol, and the cause and manner of death have not been determined, Jones said. He added that investigators believe the body was buried “long before” Carol was reported missing.
Jones also said investigators believe Carol lived with her son and daughter-in-law at some point, but they do not know whether she was living at the residence at the time she disappeared.
Authorities are conducting two investigations at the same time: one into Carol Ryan’s disappearance and another into the identity of the remains found at the home. At this stage, officials have not confirmed whether the cases are connected.
“We won’t be able to confirm the identity of these remains until the coroner and the medical examiner have conducted their investigation,” Jones said.
John and Samantha Ryan are being held at the Hinds County Jail, according to public records. John’s bond was set at $100,000 and Samantha’s at $75,000, according to Fox 11 and WJTV 12.
