Overview
- Police confirmed on Aug. 7 that the skeletal remains belong to 31-year-old Mercedes Southard, a mother of four.
- The remains were recovered in a wooded area off Minion Avenue on July 30 and were identified through dental records.
- The Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit has opened an investigation and officials have not publicly released a cause of death.
- Southard was last seen walking away from her West Price Hill home on Feb. 3, her family described the disappearance as unusual, and relatives had offered a $2,000 reward while urging anyone with information to contact police.
- Because the remains were skeletal, investigators used dental records for identification and forensic steps such as autopsy and toxicology may take longer to determine the manner and cause of death.