Human remains believed to be those of a missing Poplar Bluff, Mo., man have been found in a lake authorities recently drained.
"Last Tuesday, we began draining a large lake on private property" pursuant to a search warrant, said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs. "It's a lake that measures approximately 85 yards wide by about 175 yards long.
"Initially, upon draining the majority of the water out, there was nothing found; however, subsequent searches of the muddy bottom of the lake revealed partial skeletal remains."
On Wednesday, Dobbs said, the skeletal remains were determined by Dr. Russell Deidiker to be that of a male, less than 40 years old, with a height range of 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 10 inches.
DNA analysis, he said, will be performed to determine the "exact identity of whose remains these are. It is our belief that they are that of Edward (Acie) Goodwin who went missing on June 29, 2015."
At 5 feet 6 inches tall, the 32-year-old was reported missing by his mother, Connie Goodwin, on July 5, 2015.
Goodwin, according to earlier reports, was last seen by an individual who dropped him on at a job site on County Road 560, where he was doing home remodeling,
Based on information provided by "one of the suspects" in Goodwin's disappearance, he was last seen in the area of County Road 572. The lake, which was drained, is located off of County Road 572, about 3/10ths of a mile off of Highway T.
During their search for Goodwin, officers previously had searched the area, but had not "searched the lake" until last week.
Butler County Highway Department employees used an excavator to breach the lake's levee, which Dobbs earlier described as being 12 feet high.
Since the dirt was gradually removed, "it took a while to drain the lake," Dobbs said. Pumps subsequently had to be used to remove the remaining water in the lake's center.
"We had to construct a make-shift walkway out to the scene," Dobbs explained. " ... We had to blaze a trail. ... It was thick. You have to walk with clippers ... to remove vegetation."
Dobbs said the bottom of the lake was such that there were areas where searchers would sink thigh deep in mud, so "it was a very strenuous task."
The remains recovered so far, Dobbs said, were found by "just searching."
Dobbs said he and Investigator Kellis Thompson were searching an area of underbrush in the pond when "he, at one point, I was about 10 yards from him, he indicated he was feeling bones."
The area where the remains were found, Dobbs said, was about 100 yards "straight back" from where the levee was breached.
"This was a methodical search we were doing of the lake bottom ... (the remains) could have easily been missed," Dobbs said.
According to Dobbs, this has been "probably one of the most difficult scenes to process and search given the thick underbrush, as well as the thick, muddy bottom where you couldn't walk."
Dobbs said the area where the remains were found is "sometimes under water and sometimes not. The scene has apparently been scavenged by carnivores."
Dobbs said the search of the scene has not been completed at this time.
"The search will go on," as the investigation is continuing, said Dobbs, who indicated "it is apparent foul play was involved."
Authorities, Dobbs said, have DNA from Goodwin that can be used for comparison.
"Most likely it will be mitochordrial DNA, which will have to be done to extract DNA from the bones," Dobbs explained. " ... (it) is a lengthy process and could take upwards of six to eight months just to positively confirm the bones'" identity.
Authorities, he said, hope to have "other evidence of identification," which will result in "shortening that process."