MEMPHIS, TN — The remains of three young children, believed to be between ages 3 and 7, have been discovered in a Memphis wooded area after a dog walker found a human skull in March, police announced Wednesday.
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis called the case “heartbreaking” and “disturbing” during a press briefing, revealing that the remains had likely been in the Hickory Hill area for “a few years” before their discovery. Federal, state and local agencies including the FBI are now working to identify the children and determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths. About 170 personnel are involved in the ongoing investigation, which authorities have designated as a crime scene.
The investigation began March 8 when an anonymous caller reported finding what appeared to be a human skull near a wooded area in the 3400 block of Ridge Meadow Parkway in southeast Memphis. “While walking a dog, a person found what appeared to be a skull near a wooded area,” Davis said during Wednesday’s briefing. Due to limited lighting conditions that evening, police scheduled a more extensive search for the following day. On March 9, cadaver dogs led authorities to a nearby drainage pipe, indicating the possible presence of additional human remains. Officials used camera equipment to inspect the drainage system on March 16, but no remains were found during that initial search.
The search expanded significantly on April 1 when investigators discovered a second skull within the drainage system. The following day, April 2, coordinated search teams recovered “14 additional bones consistent with human remains,” according to Davis. The medical examiner’s office subsequently determined that the recovered remains belonged to three separate children. “No other items beyond bone fragments have been found,” Davis noted. The cause of death remains undetermined as investigators continue working with the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office to analyze the remains and gather additional evidence.
Police conducted a comprehensive review of recent missing persons reports for the Memphis area but found no matches to the discovered remains. “We know that this individual was not, or these individuals were not, persons that were reported out of our area,” Davis explained. Authorities are now considering the possibility that the children could have originated from outside Memphis. The police chief emphasized that there is no indication of any active threat to the public, stating that “the size of this response reflects the scope of the search area and our commitment to being thorough and not the presence of any immediate danger.”
The investigation involves multiple agencies working together, including the Memphis Police Department’s homicide unit, the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office, the FBI, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Search and rescue personnel have been scouring the area for additional evidence that could help identify the deceased children. Police hoped to close the portion of the investigation at the specific search area crime scene on Wednesday evening, though the broader investigation continues. The coordinated response demonstrates the serious nature of the case and the commitment of law enforcement to finding answers for the victims.
Davis made an emotional appeal to the public for information, emphasizing that someone must know the identities of these children. “Somebody knows where these children have come from. Someone knows of missing children that we have discovered in this area,” she said. “Anytime we find an individual who is deceased in our community that belongs to somebody, it’s always a somber moment. It’s even more somber when it’s our children.” She added that investigators “plan to be the voice and advocates for all of our children in our community” even though “their lives have been silenced.” Anyone with information is urged to contact Memphis Police or Crime Stoppers at 901-528-2274.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to identify the children and determine what led to their deaths. Officials have numerous resources dedicated to solving the case and bringing closure to what Davis described as a deeply disturbing situation that has shaken the Memphis community.
