Human remains found in Newton County related to missing persons case

UPDATE: The humain remains have been identified as those of 36-year-old Scotty J. Roller of Neosho. Joplin Police have arrested 40-year-old Damyon D. Fisher in connection to the findings.

Human remains have been found in a hand-dug well in a rural part of Newton County, about 4.5 miles south-southeast of Seneca.

Newton County Sheriff Chris Jennings says a missing persons case and an anonymous tip led authorities to 20364 Crane Drive on Monday.

“We’ve been at that location the last two days following up on a reliable tip that we had that there would be a body buried in a well,” said Jennings. “We brought in quite a bit of heavy equipment, excavated for two days and did manage to find a body in a well that was over 40-feet deep.”

Sheriff Jennings did not identify the body of the man but believes they know who it is.

“We need DNA confirmation before we release that for sure,” added Jennings. “This started with Newton County with information received but now [the investigation] includes the Joplin Police Department.”

This has now turned into a possible homicide investigation. We’ll bring you more information as it is released by authorities.