Human skeletal remains discovered in private pond near Marthasville

NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — This morning, Natchitoches and Sabine Parish police recovered human skeletal remains from a private pond near Marthaville, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office.

At approximately 10:44 a.m., detectives and the Natchitoches and Sabine Parish dive team discovered human skeletal remains in the water on the outer bank of a private pond off Preston Hayes Road near Marthaville , in Louisiana.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook, “Detectives working on the case are remaining tight-lipped but say the search was the result of a tip and investigation into a missing person reported in the area.”

Detectives and dive team members continued to search the pond and surrounding area for additional evidence.

Sheriff’s Detective Lieutenant Jonathan Byles details: “Recovery of the remains was made in an area approximately ¾ of a mile from where Natchitoches Sheriff and Sabine Parish detectives have been searching for Steven Burkett for the past two years.

“A positive identification of the remains has not been made, however, Mr. Burkett’s family and friends have been informed of today’s recovery.”

Natchitoches Parish Coroner Steven Clanton said: “It appears the remains had been in this area for a few years.

According to the post, the Natchitoches Parish Coroner's Office carefully collected and transported the skeletal remains to the LSU Forensic Anthropology and Informatics Enhancement Services Laboratory for further evaluation.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright, Sabine Parish Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Detectives, Sabine Parish Sheriff's Detectives, NPSO Dive Team Members and the North Sabine Parish Dive Team worked together to uncover the remains.

NPSO encourages people with information to contact the NPSO Criminal Investigation Bureau at 357-7830.