The remains of three young children, believed to be between the ages of 3 and 7, were discovered in Memphis, Tennessee, after likely having been in a wooded area for years, officials announced Wednesday.
It's believed the remains were in the Ridge Meadow Parkway for “a few years,” Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis said in a news conference.
“This is heartbreaking, is disturbing, and at this time, we have numerous resources to help us to identify these young people and bring closure to this investigation," she said.
The investigation began on March 8 when an anonymous caller reported a possible human skull near a wooded area in the 3400 block of Ridge Meadow Parkway, police said.
Responding officers found what appeared to be a human skull at the edge of the woods. During a subsequent canvass of the area, cadaver dogs alerted to a nearby drainage pipe, indicating possible human remains, according to officials.
The drain system was inspected using a camera system on March 16, and on April 1 investigators assessed the drainage system and located what appeared to be an additional skull, police said.
The next day, search teams conducted another coordinated canvass and recovered “14 additional bones consistent with human remains,” Davis said.
She said the remains are believed to be from three children, and the investigation is underway to determine their identities and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
An operation took place Wednesday along Ridge Meadow Parkway in search of additional evidence.
The investigation includes local, state and federal officials, including the FBI and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.
Davis stressed there’s no threat to the public.
“Somebody knows where these children have come from. Someone knows of missing children that we have discovered in this area,” she said.
She said the police department conducted a review of all recent missing persons reports but did not find a record matching the profile of the remains.
“We know that this individual was not, or these individuals were not, persons that were reported out of our area," Davis said.
Anyone with information was encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 901-528-2274.
