Human Skeletal Remains Found in Durham, NC

August 04, 2009

A hiker in Durham, NC, stumbled upon human skeletal remains in Eno River State Park this past weekend, sparking much speculation as to whether the remains could be Kelly Currin Morris, a 28-year-old mother of two, who went missing from her Stem, NC, home in September 2008.

According to Kelly Morris search coordinator Al Mignacci, the state park is located about 12 miles "as the crow flies" from Kelly's house.

The remains were found at about 6 p.m., Sunday, off a network of trails in the woods of West Point, a 388-acre park that is located along a two-mile stretch of the Eno River. The location is approximately six miles north of downtown Durham.

"These are human remains, very decomposed and in a very secluded area," Durham Police Sgt. Dale Gunter told newsobserver.com.

Authorities have yet to comment on the age, race, or sex of the victim. The remains have since been transported to the state medical examiner's office, where authorities are trying to make those determinations, as well as the cause of death.

According to a source close to the investigation, items found with the remains suggest that they are of an adult male; however, calls to the Durham Police Department to confirm this information have not been returned.

If the remains are male, they could be that of Jonathan Richard Gardenour, a 27-year-old man who was last seen walking near North Roxboro Road in Durham on March 31. Unfortunately, very few details have been released in that case. Investigators will only say that Gardenour is "endangered." He is described as a white male, 5 feet, 11 inches tall, and 170 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes.

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In addition to Kelly and Jonathan, 38-year-old Debbie Key, from the nearby town of Carrboro, remains missing. Debbie was last seen in the early morning hours of December 1, 1997, in the parking lot of a downtown Carrboro bar. A suspect in that case was arrested for her murder; however, those charges were later dropped when a judge ruled that authorities violated the suspect's Miranda rights. No further arrests were made, and Debbie's body has yet to be found.

So while it is unclear to whom the remains belong, there is no doubt that several families are anxious for authorities to identity them.

UPDATE:

Authorities have confirmed that the remains are those of a man. They are now waiting for dental records so that they can make a positive identification.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Durham Police Department's Criminal Investigations Homicide Unit at 919-560-4440 or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.

Photo Credits: Crime Scene: iStock; Jonathan Gardenour: Police file photo

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Comments

[helenhudson]

It's a sad state of affairs that it's a tossup as to whom these remains might belong.

God bless these families. Keep us posted.

[barb]

My thoughts and prayers are with all the families. It must be absolutely devastating to be waiting for such news. Truly heartbreaking !

[helenhudson]

Thanks for the update.

Condolences to some family somewhere who has been waiting, waiting, waiting.

[j.stephen.h]

it would be helpful if they would release more details about gardenour (i.e. was he depressed? did he hunt, or own guns? do drugs/drink? who was the last person to SEE him?) what was meant by "endangered" ? the length of time he has been missing or something more sinister like enemies? ect

[Bill Widman]

Hi, I'm with Friends of Debbie Key, and this is my first comment here.

I want to thank you for posting the link to our website in this story. I have counted so many hits off of this post it is unbelievable! Your site must be very popular, and I really do appreciate the help in getting Debbie's story out there.

I have added Investigation Discovery to my Links list in the blog.
http://friendsofdebbie.blogspot.com/

Thanks again, and please let us know when you find an ID on those remains.
Bill

[barb]

The remains have been positively identified as Jonathan Gardenour, age 27. http://blogs.discovery.com/criminal_report/2009/08/jonathan-gardenour.html

[dew]

I worked with Jon for a few years at the Big Rapids, MI Wal-Mart. Jon worked in the fresh produce department before he left this area to move to NC.

There was a post in our local newspaper, the Pioneer, stating that he was missing and inquiring about information of his whereabouts. This was by the NC police. Then his mom informed us his remains had been found in NC.

Jon was one of the most intelligent persons I have ever met. He appeared to be very well educated, was very, very quiet and when he did speak it was usually something funny, he had a dry wit.

To my knowledge he didn’t smoke, drink or do any kinds of drugs. He was known to long walks in the country and around the city. He typically would have an mp3 player in his ears, and laugh a lot to what he was listening to.

We miss him and wish we knew what happened. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.