LAWRENCE CO.—Authorities aren’t being clear on how exactly skeletal human remains were discovered on Wednesday, November 7, but the Illinois State Police are taking the discovery seriously enough to submit press releases stating that they are doing DNA comparisons to known missing persons, including Olney resident Ed Hataway.
ISP mentioned Hataway by name in a press release sent out on deadline for this issue, November 13, 2012.
Observed by Disclosure at time of discovery
Disclosure staff observed deputies from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and people who live in the area of Cahokia Trace Lane in Lawrence County, just outside of Sumner and to the west of the direct entrances into Red Hill State Park on the afternoon of the 7th, watching over the remains as they still lay near a creek that runs alongside U.S. Highway 50 on the north side of the highway.
This was at about 2:45 p.m.; ISP crime scene techs had been called but had not yet arrived from Effingham to remove the mostly-skeletal remains from their position as discovered by a person yet unknown. It appears the remains lay on the north side of the creek that runs under the Cahokia Trace concrete culvert at that point, just north of Highway 50’s westbound lane.
According to officials, the remains were recovered on the 7th, were taken to the morgue in Lawrence County and were examined during an autopsy conducted in Lawrence County.
No positive identification had been made at the time of the Nov. 13 release.
Presser says DNA comparisons will be made
The press release by ISP out of Zone 7 investigations-North Command in Effingham indicates “DNA has been taken to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for analysis and comparison to known missing persons including Edward Hataway of Olney, Ill., who was last seen September 16, 2012.”
The press release did not indicate whether any other missing person in the state (or even in the state of Indiana, which is just across the river from Lawrenceville on Highway 50) was being considered for DNA analysis. An article in last month’s issue of Disclosure (the November 2012 election edition) outlined not only Hataway’s case, but other missing people downstate, including Joel Moore, missing from Williamson County since March 2010, and Beth Bentley, missing from upstate (Woodstock) since May 2010.
Sources close to the investigation in Lawrence County noted that identification has been hampered by numerous factors, one of these being that it appeared animals had removed the ribcage from the scene. Another item of interest noted by these same sources was that the remains appeared to have no clothing on them, with the exception of a pair of underwear that were so deteriorated, it was impossible to tell whether they were a male or female garment.
Number to contact with information
The press release noted that Illinois State Police Zone 7 investigations, ISP Crime Scene Services, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Lawrence County Coroner’s Office and Olney Police Department continue to investigate.
“Anyone with information regarding Edward Hataway or the remains found is encouraged to contact Lt. Kelly Hodge, ISP Zone 7 investigations at 217-342-2292 ext. 201,” the press release noted.
