By Angela Hatton
Cape Girardeau, MO – The Missouri State Parks and Historic Preservation Team is investigating the origin of over 140 skeletal fragments discovered near the blasted section of the Birds Point levee. Mississippi County Coroner Terry Parker says that the remains could affect the levee rebuilding process.
"You know if it's American Indian, you know we have certain policies we have to follow and leave them as undisturbed as possible. Uh so I think that right now they are in process there in the process of investigating, doing forensics to determine the nationality of the remains. And then at that point you know the process of collecting and reinterring will happen."
The bones were probably located in the vicinity of the initial levee breach. The Army Corps of Engineers blew up three sections of the levee in May to relieve pressure on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Parker is confident more bones will be found.