Pools of blood found on Southwest Missouri road

NIXA, Mo. -- Christian County authorities are trying to unravel the mystery of how blood and someone's personal belongings ended up on a southwest Missouri highway.

Sheriff Joey Kyle said a passer-by found the blood Sunday along U.S. 160 just south of Nixa.

He said the amount of blood makes it likely that someone was seriously injured. The blood covered several dozen square yards, and was also found on a stop sign, a parked car and a flatbed trailer.

The Springfield News-Leader reports authorities recovered several items at the scene, including a smashed cellphone and a bloody knife.

The phone was so damaged that investigators could not retrieve personal information.

Kyle describes the scene as consistent with someone losing the items amid a "knock-down, drag-out fight."