Lisa Trigg
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Positive identification is pending for a body found Sunday in northeastern Vigo County.
Authorities are not ruling out the likelihood that the body is that of Charles Raymond Chumley Jr., of Brazil, who went missing in that area Dec. 8.
The condition of the partially decomposed body located in a wooded area on Grotto Avenue does not allow for a visual confirmation of identity, according to Vigo County Coroner Dr. Roland Kohr, who performed the autopsy on the body Monday at Terre Haute Regional Hospital.
Preliminary results found the body to be a middle-aged white male with no obvious signs of foul play. A positive identification cannot be made at this time, due to the condition of the deceased.
Kohr said he is waiting on dental records to make a positive identification.
According to state law, identification must be based on either dental records, DNA, fingerprints or visual identification from someone close to the deceased person.
Kohr confirmed that Chumley’s family was at the scene of the investigation Sunday afternoon, but they were not taken to the area of the body. One of Chumley’s family members contacted Monday afternoon by the Tribune-Star said the family declined comment until a positive identification is made.
According to Indiana State Police, who are investigating the death, the identification process could take as little as a few days or up to six weeks. Toxicology results are also pending and could take up to four weeks to complete. An official cause of death has not been determined at this time.
Chumley was reported missing on Dec. 10, two days after his wife Jennifer said she last saw him around 11:45 p.m. Dec. 8 in the driveway of a family member’s home at 11300 E. Davis Avenue. That address is northeast of Seelyville just west of the Clay-Vigo county line. It is also about three-quarters of a mile north of the wooded area where the body was found Sunday near 11236 Grotto Road, a little more than three months after Chumley went missing.
ISP Sgt. Joe Watts said the body was found by a group surveying the property, which is currently for sale.
Kohr said the body was only visible at close range because of the heavy undergrowth on the property.
Watts confirmed that there are similarities between the body found and the description of Chumley. His disappearance remains an open investigation, Watts said, and there have been no recent leads on his whereabouts.
“He is still officially missing,” Watts said.
While many people have been interviewed about Chumley’s disappearance, Watts said, there are no suspects in the case. As part of the search for Chumley, investigators flew over the area twice.
Anyone with information that could be helpful in the case should contact Indiana State Police Detective Sam Stearley at (812) 299-1151.
<i>Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.</i>
