THE NEWS DESK
The News Desk is a collection of news, notes and breaking items affecting the Fredericksburg community.
Skeletal remains found off I-95 in Stafford identified
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Katherine Bryant
UPDATE:
Now that Stafford authorities know who was dumped off Interstate 95 in the county, they’re trying to figure what happened to her and why.
Katherine Bryant of Washington was 33 years old in July 2006 when her family reported her missing to the Metropolitan Police Department. Police announced Thursday that skeletal remains found Aug. 16 in the woods off the northbound off-ramp leading to Courthouse Road were indeed those of Bryant’s, who was last seen alive in the Washington area.
Sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy said DNA testing confirmed the identity of Bryant, whose remains were stumbled upon by a truck driver who had walked into the woods to relieve himself. Sources said the evidence found at the scene had led to a tentative identification that was confirmed by the DNA testing.
Kennedy said foul play is suspected, but police have not released to cause of death or said if they even know it.
“Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, no other additional information will be released at this time,” Kennedy said.
Sheriff’s Capt. Billy Bowler said that although investigators are pleased to identify victim, it could still take quite some time to unravel the mystery of what happened to her. He said detectives will start by trying to talk to family in Washington and others Bryant was associated with six years ago.
Hopefully then police will be able to answer such questions as what Bryant did for a living, whether she had any connection to Stafford and, most importantly, who is responsible for her death.
Sheriff Charles Jett said the case is receiving his department’s full attention. “We will do everything we can to solve this case and bring closure to the victim’s family,” Jett said.
ORIGINAL POST:
The Stafford Sheriff’s Office has identified the remains found off Interstate 95 last month. Below is the office’s release:
The skeletal remains found in a wooded area near the northbound 140 ramp off of I-95 on Thursday, August 16, 2012 have been identified as Katherine Bryant of Washington, D.C.
As part of the ongoing investigation into this incident, Stafford detectives have been looking into any missing person reports in the Stafford County region. Using DNA, the skeletal remains that were found on August 16th were identified as Katherine Bryant. Ms. Bryant was reported missing by family members in the summer of 2006. Katherine Bryant was 33 years old when she was reported missing and was last seen in the Washington,D.C. area.
Foul play is suspected in the death of Ms. Bryant. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, no other additional information will be released at this time.
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is requesting that anyone with knowledge of Ms. Bryant or her associates contact the Sheriff’s Office by calling 540-658-4400, Crime Solvers at 540-659-2020 or by texting STAFFORD and your tip to CRIMES (274637).
