MPD Investigates Human Remains Located Along Ridge Meadow Parkway

 The Memphis Police Department (MPD) is conducting a planned and coordinated search operation along Ridge Meadow Parkway as part of an ongoing investigation that began in early March 2026. There is no indication of any active threat to the public.

The operation involves approximately 170 personnel and is being carried out in collaboration with the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office, with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, federal partners, and the Memphis Fire Department. Investigators are conducting a systematic and methodical search of a defined area between Ridgeway Road and Winchester Road in an effort to locate additional evidence.

The investigation began on March 8, 2026, when officers responded to a suspicious person call in the 3400 block of Ridge Meadow Parkway. An anonymous caller reported a possible human skull near a wooded area. Responding officers located what appeared to be a human skull at the edge of the woods. Due to limited lighting conditions, a more extensive search was scheduled for the following day.

On March 9, officers and personnel from the Medical Examiner’s Office returned to the scene to continue the search. On March 10, investigators, along with the Medical Examiner’s Office and Shelby County Search and Rescue, conducted a more thorough canvass of the area. During that search, cadaver K9 units alerted to a nearby drainage pipe, indicating the possible presence of additional human remains.

On March 16, investigators worked with the City of Memphis Drain Maintenance Division to inspect the drainage system using a camera system. No additional remains were located during that search.

On April 1, investigators accessed the drainage system from a nearby location and located what appeared to be an additional skull. On April 2, search teams conducted another coordinated canvass, resulting in the recovery of fourteen additional bones consistent with human remains.

Based on the remains recovered and preliminary analysis by the Medical Examiner’s Office, investigators believe the remains are those of three individuals estimated to be between the ages of 3 and 7 years old. Identification is ongoing, and investigators are working to determine both the identities of the individuals and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Today’s search is a continuation of those efforts. The size and scope of the response reflect the area being searched and MPD’s commitment to conducting a thorough investigation.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. MPD will continue to work closely with its partners as investigators follow the evidence.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH or the Memphis Police Department Homicide Bureau at 901-636-3300.

Chief Davis speaks at an outdoor press conference, standing at a podium with multiple news microphones. Behind him are several law enforcement and public safety officials, including individuals in FBI and emergency services attire. Trees and greenery are visible in the background. A Memphis Police Department seal and recruitment website appear at the bottom of the image.A group of uniformed and non‑uniformed individuals stand outdoors behind a podium during a press event. Several microphones from different news outlets are positioned on the podium, which displays the Memphis Police Department seal. The group stands in a row with trees and greenery visible in the background. At the bottom of the image, text reads “Memphis Police Department – Established in 1827” along with social media icons and the website joinmpd.com.Several individuals wearing blue shirts labeled “Recruit” stand outdoors in a training or instructional setting. The group appears to be in a parking or staging area with vehicles and trees in the background. Some individuals hold water bottles, and the scene is brightly lit by sunlight. At the bottom of the image, text displays “Memphis Police Department – Established in 1827,” along with various social media icons and the website joinmpd.com.A group of individuals are gathered in a wooded outdoor area, participating in what appears to be a hands‑on training or search activity. Several people wearing blue shirts are positioned throughout the background, while two individuals in light‑colored shirts and orange caps are kneeling or sitting on large plastic buckets in the foreground. Buckets, tools, and containers are scattered around the area. On the right side of the image, a uniformed person wearing a high‑visibility vest stands observing the scene. Sunlight filters through the trees, illuminating patches of foliage and casting shadows on the ground. At the bottom of the image, text reads “Memphis Police Department – Established in 1827,” along with social media icons and the website joinmpd.com.A group of individuals are gathered outdoors in a wooded area during what appears to be an investigative or training activity. At the center of the image, a person wearing a green vest with bold white text reading “INVESTIGATOR FORENSICS” stands with their back to the camera. Surrounding this individual are others wearing dark shirts and uniforms, some featuring patches or insignias on the sleeves or chest. Sunlight filters through the trees, casting a mix of light and shadow across the scene. At the bottom of the image, text reads “Memphis Police Department – Established in 1827,” along with social media icons and the website joinmpd.com. A person wearing tactical gear with a vest labeled “SHERIFF” in large yellow letters stands in a wooded area. The individual is facing away from the camera and appears to be observing or accompanying another person in a blue shirt who is slightly ahead and to the left in the trees. Dense foliage, tree trunks, and patches of sunlight create a forested backdrop. At the bottom of the image, text reads “Memphis Police Department – Established in 1827,” along with social media icons and the website joinmpd.com.Several individuals are standing in a wooded area surrounded by dense green foliage and branches. One person in the foreground is wearing a dark blue shirt with bright yellow text on the back that reads “FBI Evidence Response Team.” More people in blue clothing are visible nearby, partially obscured by leaves. The setting appears to be an outdoor search or investigative activity. At the bottom of the image, text reads “Memphis Police Department – Established in 1827,” along with social media icons and the website joinmpd.com.Two individuals are working outdoors in a wooded area, pouring material from a white plastic bucket onto a large rectangular sifting screen filled with soil and debris. One person holds the bucket while another stands beside the screen, watching the process. In the background, a uniformed individual wearing tactical gear stands among the trees. Sunlight filters through the foliage, creating a mix of light and shadow across the scene. At the bottom of the image, text reads “Memphis Police Department – Established in 1827,” alongside social media icons and the website joinmpd.com.

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