Body found in Sandy Twp believed to be missing woman
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Nov. 16, 2023) – Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis Campbell thinks authorities are close to confirming the identity of the human remains found in Sandy Township November 4th.
A hunter discovered the decomposed body off North Orchard Road near Dover-Zoar Road that Campbell says appeared to have been there for weeks or months.
Campbell says they’ve since heard from family members of a missing Stark County woman whose clothing and shoes match the description given for the body.
“It did seem as though this case had a pretty good probability of being their loved one,” Campbell said.
But he says they won’t know for sure until DNA testing from the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office is complete, which could be any day now.
“We’re just kind of waiting for some results,” he said. “We were told initially it could take up to two weeks. Obviously, we’re hoping for a shorter period of time on that.”
Campbell says dental findings were inconclusive.
“(Dental records) didn’t eliminate this person, but they weren’t complete enough to have been able to make a positive ID.”
Campbell says the initial autopsy in Cuyahoga County found no obvious signs of trauma or injuries, so further testing will be needed to determine the person’s cause of death.