Skeletal Remains Identified As Virginia Woman Missing Since 2018

April 23, 2021

Skeletal remains found in Escambia County, Alabama, have been positively identified as missing Virginia woman that was headed to visit relatives in Alabama nearly three years ago.

On August 4, 2018, 70-year old Shari Christine Saunders left Norfolk, Virginia, on her way to Monroeville, Alabama, to visit with family, but never arrived. She was last seen fueling her 2010 red Toyota Corolla in Evergreen, Alabama. Saunders was listed as a missing person and entered into a nationwide database.

Saunder’s vehicle was located on a dirt road off Canaan Church Road in Conecuh County, Alabama, a few miles north of the Flomaton exit on I-65 and Highway 113 on August 13, 2018. A search of the area was completed by the Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe County Sheriff’s offices but Saunders was not located. Investigators continued to search for Saunders, conduct interview, and follow up on leads and information that came in on a weekly basis.

On December 26, 2020, skeletal remains were found in a wooded area off a gated private road that intersects with Canaan Church Road. The remains were submitted for forensic testing for a positive identification.

“A forensic laboratory has now positively identified the skeletal remains as that of Shari Saunders. Additional evidence is being evaluated by other forensic labs, and the sheriff’s offices are focusing on particular suspects,” Escambia County (AL) Sheriff Heath Jackson said. “We would like to thank the community for their willingness to help in bringing this case closer to being solved and ask that you report anything that might be of evidentiary value.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office Investigator Smith at (251) 809-0741.

Comments

6 Responses to “Skeletal Remains Identified As Virginia Woman Missing Since 2018”

  1. Lara Grossmith on May 4th, 2021 12:56 am

    Rest In Peace, Momma.
    It’s heartbreaking that she always said to kill people with kindness,
    but her kindness got her killed.
    If justice isn’t served in this lifetime, it will be in the next.

  2. J.Larry Seale on April 25th, 2021 3:30 pm

    the state should bring back
    hanging !!!!!
    Every thursday at high noon………..

  3. William Lingo on April 25th, 2021 11:45 am

    The Golden state killer was caught because of advances in science technology, it had nothing to do with police agencies not sharing information or not doing their jobs!!!! Advancements in DNA technology is what resolved those cases!!!!

  4. Justme on April 25th, 2021 8:22 am

    Both Alabama and Florida have the death penalty. I think we need laws that crack down on anyone who harms women, children and the elderly. Until that happens we will see more like this unfortunately since it seems it is so easy to get away with….good example is the Golden State Killer in Calif got away for over 40 years and many attacks and murders for the simple fact that law enforcement does not talk to each other from town to town, county to county and state to state, shared info is the key. Right now in Pensacola the sheriff’s office can’t seem to solve a double homicide of Alan & Scott Towers…they were gunned down in daylight hours in their place of business on Old Corey Field Rd….this case hasn’t been spoken of in almost 2 yr. Why? One would think if would only help law enforcement to speak out and keep talking about it until someone came forward with information but this is not happening. I do not understand it and I am sure the families of these victims do not understand it either.

  5. Stanley Beech on April 24th, 2021 6:38 am

    Thugs that do things like that to innocent people aren’t human, they are animals and should be treated as such. Bring back The Electric chair and use it on these thugs and the murder rate will go down.

  6. William L on April 23rd, 2021 5:24 pm

    Glad she was finally found, I hope her family and friends can finally have closure, may she now rest in peace.