The search began when a person walking a dog reported the discovery of what appeared to be a human skull near a wooded stretch of Hickory Hill in southwest Memphis on March 8. Responding officers located the initial remains at the forest edge and quickly expanded the response to treat the location as an active crime scene. Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis later described the discovery as both “disturbing” and “heartbreaking,” and investigators moved to secure the area and begin a methodical search for additional evidence and remains.
Over the next several days law enforcement returned to the site to follow up on leads and do a more thorough sweep. On March 9 and March 10, teams including cadaver canine units worked the terrain, and those dogs signaled at a nearby drainage pipe, indicating the possible presence of more human material. Investigators inspected the drainage system with cameras on March 16, then accessed a separate opening and found what appeared to be another skull on April 1. A coordinated canvass on April 2 produced 14 additional bones consistent with human remains.
Search operations and forensic findings
The recovery process involved detailed sifting and documentation, with search teams combing soil, clearing brush, and using specialized equipment to examine the drainage infrastructure. Forensic specialists from the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office and an anthropologist took charge of initial examinations, and preliminary analysis concluded the bones belong to three young children, each estimated to be between 3 and 7 years old. Investigators emphasized that the remains appeared to have been in the area for an extended period, a determination based on expert evaluation of taphonomic indicators and environmental exposure.
Timeline of key investigative steps
Authorities documented each stage of the inquiry: the initial report on March 8, follow-up sweeps on March 9 and March 10, camera inspection of drainage on March 16, discovery of an additional skull on April 1, and the recovery of more bones on April 2. On April 22, a larger search effort resumed in the area as officials worked to finish a methodical grid search. Investigators stressed that aside from skeletal material, no other significant items or evidence had been publicly reported at the scene as of that resurvey.
Investigation status and community appeal
Memphis police continue efforts to establish the identities of the children and the circumstances that led to their deaths, and they have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward. Chief Cerelyn Davis asked the public to review missing persons reports and to consider that these children might not be local to Memphis, given ongoing analysis. She reiterated there is no indication of an immediate threat to the community while investigators remain focused on a careful, evidence-driven inquiry into the cause of death and possible links to other cases.
Agencies, resources and scope of the search
The scene has drawn a multiagency response: the Memphis Police Department’s homicide unit is leading the operation with support from the FBI, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Memphis Fire Department personnel, and homeland security partners. Roughly 170 personnel were reported to be involved in search and processing activities, reflecting both the size of the area under review and the commitment to thoroughness rather than any suspected ongoing public danger. Investigators continue to follow forensic leads and ask community members to share information that could help identify the children.
