Couple Arrested After ‘Human Remains’ Found in Shallow Grave in Backyard amid Search for Husband’s 81-Year-Old Mother By Toria Sheffield

A couple in Mississippi has been arrested amid a search for the husband’s 81-year-old mother after “human remains” were discovered in their backyard.

John Ryan, 50, and his wife, Samantha Ryan, 48, were arrested on Wednesday, Dec. 24, on charges of desecrating a human corpse, per Jackson County public arrest records, Fox 11 and WJTV 12. 

The arrest comes amid a search for John’s mother, 81-year-old Carol Ryan, who was reported missing by a third family member after she was not seen or heard from “in several months,” per a Dec. 23 Facebook post from the Jackson Police Department (JPD) as well as a press conference held by Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones the same day.

During the press conference, Jones shared that an initial investigation into the missing person’s case led them to a home on the 200 block of Baybury Lane. Investigators obtained a warrant to search the property, and “excavators were brought into the scene to conduct a dig in the backyard,” per Jones.

Jones additionally said that a body was discovered in a shallow grave wrapped in “what we believe to be some type of tarp,” and that the grave site also contained “concrete.”

It is unclear whether the remains belong to Carol, and authorities do not know the cause or manner of death at this time, per Jones. He noted that investigators believe the body was buried “long before” Carol was reported missing.

Jones stated that authorities believe Carol resided with her son and daughter-in-law at some point in time, but they are unsure whether she lived at the residence at the time of her disappearance.

He further said that authorities are conducting two concurrent investigations: one investigation into missing person Carol Ryan, and another into the body discovered at the Jackson residence. They cannot confirm whether the two investigations are related at this time.

“We won’t be able to confirm the identity of these remains until the coroner and the medical examiner have conducted their investigation,” he added.

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PEOPLE reached out to both the JPD and the Jackson County Coroner’s Office for comment on Saturday, Dec. 27, but did not receive immediate responses.

John and Samantha are being held at the Hinds County Jail, per public records. John received a bond of $100,000, and Samantha received a bond of $75,000, per Fox 11 and WJTV 12.