JACKSON, MS – Police are continuing their investigation into the suspicious disappearance of an 81-year-old woman, after police discovered a body buried in the backyard of her former home.
Carol Ryan was last believed to be living at a nursing facility in nearby Brandon, according to a concerned family member who contacted Jackson police over the weekend to report her missing. The caller mentioned no one had heard from her in several months, prompting detectives to quickly open a case.
Police soon turned their attention to a residence in Jackson where Ryan had previously lived with her son, John Ryan, 50, and his wife, Samantha Ryan, 48. The couple was currently residing in the house, authorities said.
After acquiring a search warrant, investigators brought cadaver dogs onto the property. The dogs detected the scent of human remains, leading police to focus their search on the backyard.
Excavation crews were called in, and they uncovered a grave approximately six to eight feet deep. Inside, detectives found a body enveloped in a tarp, further concealed beneath a layer of concrete.
Officials have not publicly confirmed the identity of the remains, which have been sent to the medical examiner’s office for testing and to determine the cause of death. Law enforcement noted that the remains had likely been concealed in the backyard for a significant amount of time before the missing person report was filed.
Carol Ryan had not been seen or heard from since earlier this year, with her relatives indicating alarm over her sudden absence and lack of contact.
Police arrested both John and Samantha Ryan. Each faces a charge of desecration of a human corpse, and both remain in custody at Hinds County Jail. Bond for John Ryan was set at $100,000, and $75,000 for Samantha Ryan.
Investigators emphasized that their work is not done, and additional charges could be filed as the case develops. Detectives continue to piece together the final movements and fate of Carol Ryan as they await formal identification of the remains.
The Jackson Police Department has asked anyone with further information about Carol Ryan’s disappearance or the case to come forward.