RICHMOND, Va. -- Human remains were discovered Friday around 9 a.m., near a work site and old junkyard off Jennie Scher Road in East Richmond. The remains were discovered in multiple bags, according to law enforcement sources, as workers cleared brush at the site.
Members of the Richmond Police command staff, including Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham responded to the scene.
Earlier in the week, Richmond Police issued a missing person's report for 26-year-old Katasha Johnson. Chief Durham addressed Johnson's disappearance when he noted that the current death investigation is less than half a mile away from her apartment building. There is no indication, at this point, that the remains are those of the missing woman.
Johnson was last seen June 3 when she dropped her daughter off at a day care center in north Richmond, a Richmond Police spokesman said Monday morning
Johnson's relatives were on the scene. Her mom was there, desperate for answers, and she said she believes the remains are her daughters.
"She was someone's niece, mother, sister; she has a close-knit family," her mother said. "If you know something please come forward."
A witness said that they had spotted "heavy vultures" flying around the last few days.
"Our cadaver dogs and officers searched the area over the past few days and this is an area our dogs did not alert to," an officer said.
The medical examiner picked up the bodies Friday and will work to determine the cause of death. Forensics officers and detectives combed the brush for clues.
Anyone with information was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000. To share information about this situation, you can submit a news tip here.
