Body found in Black River identified as area woman

WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- The body found in Black River Friday evening is that of a Wappapello woman who hasn't been seen in more than six months.

The victim is Porisha K. Davis, 39, of Wappapello, said Butler County Coroner Larry Cotrell.

"X-rays and dental records have allowed us to identify her. Because of the length of time between the death and the recovery, we do not have a cause of death yet," Cotrell said.

Davis' badly decomposed body was found at about 5:30 p.m. Friday by a fisherman in Black River, about one mile south of the Hargrove Bridge.

The body was recovered from the water and transported to Farmington, Mo., where an autopsy was performed Saturday afternoon.

Family members had reported Davis missing to the Wayne County Sheriff's Department in June. She reportedly was last seen in the January in the Poplar Bluff area.

No other information is being released at this time.

Anyone with information on this case or who may have seen the victim since January is asked to call the Butler County Sheriff's Department at (573) 686-8070.