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NewsJanuary 30, 2003

Daily American Republic PUXICO, Mo. -- As officers comb a river bank near Puxico for any evidence, a pathologist will begin the task of identifying the remains found there Tuesday. According to Stoddard County Sheriff Steve Fish, there is a possibility the remains may be that of Claudia J. Sneed, 50, of Bernie...

Daily American Republic

PUXICO, Mo. -- As officers comb a river bank near Puxico for any evidence, a pathologist will begin the task of identifying the remains found there Tuesday.

According to Stoddard County Sheriff Steve Fish, there is a possibility the remains may be that of Claudia J. Sneed, 50, of Bernie.

Sneed hasn't been seen since about 8 p.m. Aug. 31 when she was making a purchase at a convenience store south of Bernie.

When officers began their investigation, they reportedly found no evidence of foul play at Sneed's residence. Nothing was missing from the residence either.

Sneed's clothes, purse, checkbook and prescription inhaler were inside and her vehicle parked outside.

"We got a long ways to go before we can do any identifying," said Fish.

"In that part of the county, it could be anybody. That particular area is not where we expected to find her."

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The skeletal remains were found at about 5 p.m. Tuesday by a Puxico resident while he was looking for deer antlers along a creek bank about two miles west of Puxico.

The remains were found about 75 to 100 yards off the roadway, Fish said.

About one-third of the body was intact, while the rest was scattered. Authorities suspect animals may have scattered the body.

The remains, according to Fish, are being sent to Dr. Michael Zaricor at Mineral Area Hospital in Farmington for examination to "try to determine a couple of things -- male or female, Caucasian or not."

Authorities also hope Zaricor can determine a height of the person, Fish said.

"Of course, he will examine the remains for any evidence of foul play, including X-rays," Fish said. "(He) will also get DNA samples from the remains.

"We do have a DNA sample from the missing person at Bernie. That will be one of the first things we do to see if they match."

Fish said Zaricor will also do a comparison of Sneed's dental records with the remains.

"I don't expect to hear anything from (Zaricor) for several days," Fish said. "DNA testing, I don't know how long that takes, but it probably is not a real quick thing."

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