Post by LadyBlue on Sept 22, 2004 16:45:23 GMT -5
The state medical examiner's office this afternoon identified a body found in Chesterfield County Sunday as Michael Minion of Hopewell. County Police Investigators are working closely with the Hopewell Police Department, Richmond Sheriffs Office as well as the State medical examiner's office on the investigation surrounding the cause of death and the man's disappearance.
The body was discovered by a pair of relic hunters Sunday. Chesterfield Police Capt. Paige Foster said that the initial discovery by the hunters was of the jawbone.
"Quite a bit of forensic evidence has been collected so far including clothing and what was in it, bones and the weapon," Foster said. "The body had been disturbed by animals. Pieces were 20 to 30 feet away from the main torso area."
Minion has been missing since the spring of 2003 when he was last seen alive.
"They were found in an area of woods which was not searched last year following the disappearance of Michael Minion," said Foster.
Foster said that the remains were about 80 percent intact and found in the same area Minion's Ford Escort was found April 28, 2003. The Hopewell resident and employee of the Richmond City Sheriff's Office had been missing for 12 days prior to that.
Minion's car was located at the AmeriSuites Inn in Chesterfield near the intersection of Route 10 and Interstate 295. At the time of the discovery of the vehicle, Hopewell Police Sgt. Gabriel Costanzo said that there was nothing inside to give any clue as to Minion's whereabouts or to suggest that any criminal activity was involved.
Whether criminal activity was involved in his disappearance or not remains to be determined by an investigation, however Minion was under investigation himself at the date of his disappearance, according to the Associated Press. In May Minion was directly indicted on two felony sex charges involving a minor.
Tuesday morning, Costanzo said he had no comment on the discovery of the body other than to say that the identity has not yet been confirmed. By Tuesday afternoon a press release from Costanzo stated that the identity of the person could be confirmed through dental records as Minion. The cause of death is still under investigation by the medical examiner's office.
"Most of the time thus far has been spent on identifying the remains," said Central District Administrator Evelyn Henson, from the state medical examiner's office. "The remains were not intact and were not recognizable as a person, particularly not Michael Minion."
Henson said that the heat and humidity as well as moisture this summer would not have made a good preservative environment. Investigating the cause of death is much more forensic due to the condition of the body.
"It could be days if not weeks before we know what may have caused his death," said Henson. "Normally, on a freshly dead person we perform an autopsy within 12 hours of the time of death. But this is a little bit different case."
Police found a pistol near the remains, and Hopewell police confirm that it was Minion's city-issued weapon. Foster would say however that the weapon was in "fairly bad shape," and that it also has been sent off for forensic examination. Minion's remains are still at the medical examiner's office pending an investigation into the cause of death.
The body was discovered by a pair of relic hunters Sunday. Chesterfield Police Capt. Paige Foster said that the initial discovery by the hunters was of the jawbone.
"Quite a bit of forensic evidence has been collected so far including clothing and what was in it, bones and the weapon," Foster said. "The body had been disturbed by animals. Pieces were 20 to 30 feet away from the main torso area."
Minion has been missing since the spring of 2003 when he was last seen alive.
"They were found in an area of woods which was not searched last year following the disappearance of Michael Minion," said Foster.
Foster said that the remains were about 80 percent intact and found in the same area Minion's Ford Escort was found April 28, 2003. The Hopewell resident and employee of the Richmond City Sheriff's Office had been missing for 12 days prior to that.
Minion's car was located at the AmeriSuites Inn in Chesterfield near the intersection of Route 10 and Interstate 295. At the time of the discovery of the vehicle, Hopewell Police Sgt. Gabriel Costanzo said that there was nothing inside to give any clue as to Minion's whereabouts or to suggest that any criminal activity was involved.
Whether criminal activity was involved in his disappearance or not remains to be determined by an investigation, however Minion was under investigation himself at the date of his disappearance, according to the Associated Press. In May Minion was directly indicted on two felony sex charges involving a minor.
Tuesday morning, Costanzo said he had no comment on the discovery of the body other than to say that the identity has not yet been confirmed. By Tuesday afternoon a press release from Costanzo stated that the identity of the person could be confirmed through dental records as Minion. The cause of death is still under investigation by the medical examiner's office.
"Most of the time thus far has been spent on identifying the remains," said Central District Administrator Evelyn Henson, from the state medical examiner's office. "The remains were not intact and were not recognizable as a person, particularly not Michael Minion."
Henson said that the heat and humidity as well as moisture this summer would not have made a good preservative environment. Investigating the cause of death is much more forensic due to the condition of the body.
"It could be days if not weeks before we know what may have caused his death," said Henson. "Normally, on a freshly dead person we perform an autopsy within 12 hours of the time of death. But this is a little bit different case."
Police found a pistol near the remains, and Hopewell police confirm that it was Minion's city-issued weapon. Foster would say however that the weapon was in "fairly bad shape," and that it also has been sent off for forensic examination. Minion's remains are still at the medical examiner's office pending an investigation into the cause of death.