CLAY CO.—Sources close to the case of a woman found dead not far from U.S. Highway 50 through Clay County have advised that the case is now being considered and investigated as a homicide.
The body of Tracie Denise Hunt, 49, of Clay City, was observed in the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 12, ostensibly by passing motorists, who, at about 3 a.m., began calling in reports. Callers stated they believed they were seeing a person in or near a ditch running along the frontage road off U.S. 50 westbound, near the Bradford Supply building.
Local authorities weren’t at liberty to say whether Hunt had been struck by a vehicle and landed in the ditch, or if there was some other reason why her body was there.
An autopsy was conducted by Clay County Coroner Wes Miller later that same day.
Illinois State Police Sergeant Albert Gallatin of ISP District 12 in Effingham was in attendance at the autopsy, and spoke to Disclosure, advising that any results from the autopsy would be preliminary and thus incomplete, and wouldn’t be complete until toxicology results were finalized, which, Gallatin said, would likely not be available for as many as six weeks.
Reports come back
Disclosure was unable to reach Gallatin as of press time (March 11); however, unofficial sources have reported to Disclosure that toxicology was returned that very week, and showed that Hunt had no drugs or other substances in her system.
It seemed to be the opinion of the lab that Hunt had died of a heart attack.
However, why she was where she was remains the mystery that no law enforcement has yet to issue an opinion about, and local mainstream media has had nothing on the woman’s death except for the fact that it happened, this covered in an obituary.
Sources close to the investigation, therefore, are telling Disclosure that there has been some unusual activity both prior to and after Hunt’s death.
Hunt reportedly was staying at a residence in Clay City with her brother Jerry Wayne (JW) Camden, 54, and others in the family. Camden, a meth felon and problem drinker, was reportedly violent toward people and his sister was no exception.
It’s been reported to Disclosure that the possibility is a very good one that on the night in question, Hunt may have been struck by her brother, and subsequently kicked out of the house.
As it was cold and damp, if Hunt wasn’t allowed back in, she may have wandered off. With a head injury from allegedly being struck, she might have become disoriented, thus ending up where her body was ultimately found.
It gets worse
But the information Disclosure has received from sources close to the case gets worse than this.
These sources report that someone in the house that night had already traveled to Evansville to pick up some heroin, and that there was another trip planned the next day. This, however, was precluded, because according to unofficial sources, another person in the house indulged in too much of the heroin and nearly overdosed the next day, resulting in authorities being called in response to the emergency situation it prompted.
Shortly thereafter, the unofficial sources say, those residing in the house removed Hunt’s belongings, cleaning her room top to bottom, washed down with bleach.
Disclosure was told that one among the number either living there or related to someone who was, was expecting to receive a large tax refund, so the plan was that they were going to depart the area as soon as the money was received.
Camden has reportedly done time in Michigan, between stints of doing time in Illinois.
Their exact whereabouts as of press time, or intentions of whereabouts, was unknown.