Police said the remains were found in a backyard grave as the search expanded.
JACKSON, MS — Investigators searching for 81-year-old Carol Ryan, reported missing from her Jackson home, said they found unidentified human remains buried in her backyard and arrested her son and daughter-in-law in a case that is now drawing wider attention across the city.
The remains had not been identified as of Thursday, and police said Ryan would remain listed as a missing person until forensic testing confirms who was found. The discovery, made during a warrant search at Ryan’s property on Baybury Lane, prompted officials to bring in heavy equipment and expand the scene, signaling a shift from a routine welfare concern to a high-stakes investigation with possible criminal consequences.
Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones said the investigation focused on a home in the 200 block of Baybury Lane after relatives reported Ryan missing and told officers they had not heard from her in months. Police obtained a search warrant and arrived late Monday night, Jones said, beginning an overnight search that continued into Tuesday as investigators looked for evidence and tried to account for Ryan’s whereabouts.
By Tuesday, officials had added excavators and other equipment to assist the search, with crews working in the yard behind the house. Investigators used a cadaver dog, and authorities said the dog alerted in the backyard, leading crews to dig. At about 7:50 p.m. Tuesday, Jones announced that human remains were found in what police described as a grave on the property. “We are working to determine the identity of the remains,” Jones said in a public update as investigators secured the area and continued collecting evidence.
Two relatives were taken into custody and later charged, police and court records said. John Ryan, 50, and Samantha Ryan, 48, were arrested and charged with desecration of a human corpse, authorities said. John Ryan is Carol Ryan’s son, and Samantha Ryan is his wife. The pair appeared before a municipal court judge Wednesday morning. John Ryan was given a $100,000 bond, and Samantha Ryan was given a $75,000 bond, according to information released with the case update.
Authorities have not said publicly whose remains were found or how long they may have been buried. Police have also not released a cause of death, and officials have not described any visible signs of injury. The case remains in an early stage where investigators must match physical evidence from the scene with missing-person records, medical records, and other identifying information. Until that identification is made, police said, the missing-person case for Carol Ryan remains open, even though the investigation now includes criminal charges tied to the handling of a body.
The Baybury Lane neighborhood became the center of a growing police response as the search continued. Neighbors and passersby watched from a distance while investigators marked off areas near the house and worked in the yard. The presence of heavy equipment indicated investigators were looking for buried evidence and trying to document the location and condition of what they found. Officials have not said whether more than one burial area exists or whether additional searches will be conducted elsewhere connected to the family.
Investigators have also not said when Carol Ryan was last seen or the last time anyone had direct contact with her. Police said her family reported her missing this week, and officials described concerns about a long gap in communication. Those details are expected to become key as detectives build a timeline, review phone and financial records, and interview people who may have seen Ryan recently. Authorities have not released the names of other relatives who reported her missing or described the circumstances that led them to contact police.
For now, much of what happens next depends on forensic work. Identification typically involves an examination by medical personnel and laboratory testing, which can include dental comparisons, fingerprints if available, and DNA analysis. Officials have not provided an estimated time for identification in this case, and they have not said where the remains were taken for examination. Police also have not announced whether they are treating the death as a homicide, though the discovery of a grave on a missing person’s property has raised new questions among residents and local leaders.
As investigators work, the charges filed so far focus on the treatment of a body rather than the circumstances of a death. Legal experts note that such charges can be used when authorities believe someone handled or concealed remains unlawfully while investigators continue to gather evidence that could support more serious charges. Police have not said whether prosecutors are considering additional charges or whether either suspect has an attorney who has spoken publicly. The court schedule beyond the initial bond setting was not immediately released in public updates.
Officials said the investigation remains active and that more information will be released as facts are confirmed. Police continued to process the scene after the announcement Tuesday night, and detectives have indicated they are pursuing leads tied to Ryan’s disappearance and the grave. The case has also highlighted the challenges police face when a missing-person report comes after an extended period without contact, leaving investigators to reconstruct weeks or months of activity through records, interviews, and physical evidence.
By Thursday, Carol Ryan was still listed as missing, and the remains found in her backyard had not been publicly identified. Police said the next major step will be confirmation of the remains and further court proceedings as investigators determine what happened and who is responsible for any criminal acts linked to the case.
Author note: Last updated December 25, 2025.