Florida investigators are trying to understand why the family of a wife and mother whose remains were found more than 16 years ago never reported her missing, Fox 13 reports.
On February 6, 2007, a skeleton was found under a shallow grave in Sarasota, Florida. At the time, police could not identify the remains, but technological advancements in DNA testing and genetic genealogy eventually helped authorities break open the case in November.
Police determined that the remains belonged to Jeana Lynn Burrus, who was 39 years old at the time she died, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, which highlighted the investigation in an online post this week.
Burrus’ remains were found in a wooded area of Ashton Court about three miles from a home she shared with her husband and son in the 6200 block of Pauline Avenue in Sarasota. Detectives do not believe she was employed at the time of her death, but her husband, James, worked at an area auto body shop.
No one in the family is believed to have reported Burrus missing.
“The investigation into Jeana’s death was further complicated as she was never reported missing by family, and her whereabouts had not been questioned,” the sheriff’s office wrote.
A new manager at the body shop said authorities searched the facility earlier this year but did not find anything. A woman renting the home where the couple had lived also said police searched it months ago but found nothing of significance, according to WTSP-TV.
Burrus and her husband had lived previously in Citrus County, Florida, and Frederick Maryland, before they moved to Sarasota. Their son is believed to have attended Gulf Gate Elementary between 2005 and 2006.
To report information about the case, call Detective Brian Ng at 941-861-4900.
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[Feature Photo via Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office]
