Major case squad activated after remains found

DONIPHAN — Human remains found Sunday in a rural area of Ripley County have been identified as a Doniphan man reported missing since Jan. 24-25, Sheriff Mike Barton said Tuesday.

“On Sunday, Feb. 16, the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office was called to a location in rural Ripley County,” Barton said in a prepared statement released Tuesday afternoon. “The remains of a human had been located, which was determined to be the remains of Brandon Wayne Harris.”

Barton said the Current River Major Case Squad currently is processing leads in the investigation. The case squad includes officers with the Doniphan City Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and deputies with the sheriff’s department.

“Further information pertaining to this case cannot be released at this time,” the sheriff said.

Harris’ family had offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to his whereabouts. The 37-year-old man was last seen the evening of Jan. 24-25 at the R&B Club on Highway 21 North of Doniphan.

Reports said Harris’ pickup truck was found parked outside the club and apparently had been left there overnight.

Barton said on Feb. 7 deputies had investigated several leads from family and friends and executed a search warrant at one location in the county.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the sheriff’s department at 996-2129 or any other law enforcement agency.