NEW - The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit issued updated information about the investigation into remains found on March 21 at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery.
The release is as follows:
The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit (CMHU) has been receiving numerous inquiries as to whether or not the identity of the remains found on March 21, 2019 at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home/Cemetery property are those of Natily Nacole Franklin.
Since November, the Michigan State Police have been investigating her disappearance. Locally, the MHU has assisted MSP in that investigation.
After the autopsy of the found body was conducted, MHU investigators and the MSP investigator met with the family of Natily Franklin to discuss the findings.
While there are some strong indicators that the victim may be Natily Franklin, a positive identification must still be made through DNA and/or dental records.
The victims’ remains have been sent to Indianapolis for an anthropological examination. DNA samples and dental x-rays will be taken during that examination and sent for further examination and comparison. When the results of that examination are concluded, the MHU will first notify the victim’s family and then publicly release the results.
The County Metro Homicide Unit would like to commend the Michigan State Police department for the extensive investigation into the disappearance of Natily Franklin’s disappearance.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Due to the nature of the investigation, we are ethically limited in what can be discussed at this time.
ORIGINAL POST:The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit is investigating human remains found in the 10,000 block of McKinley Highway in Osceola in a wooded area.
The discovery occurred last Thursday evening as a person was looking for deer antler sheds.
The remains found were skeletal and in an advanced state of decomposition .
An autopsy occurred over the weekend. The remains were found to be female but the coroner has asked a forensic anthropologist for a consultation before making a final determination on the cause and manner of death.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit at 574-235-5009.