UPDATE - As of Jan. 15, the death was ruled accidental following autopsy reports.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ark. - On Saturday, Dec. 8, a body was been found in a wooded area, south of Highway 54 in Jefferson County amid a search for a missing woman who got out of the vehicle with her husband and daughter and vanished in the woods on Friday, Dec. 7.
Nancy Harris, 50, was reportedly last seen on the evening of Dec. 7, in the vehicle with her husband and daughter.
While traveling along Highway 54, Harris began acting erratic and abruptly got out of the vehicle. Harris began walking towards a wooded area, when Harris’ husband and daughter lost sight of her. Harris’ husband and daughter reportedly made several attempts to locate her prior to contacting authorities; however, their immediate efforts were unsuccessful.
On Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 at approximately 4:59 p.m., deputies were dispatched to Highway 54, just east of Middle Warren Road to the report of a body later identified as Harris. Harris’ body was discovered by her husband and son, who had made another attempt to locate her.
Deputy Coroner Jason Duren pronounced Harris dead at 6:05 p.m. The cause of death was not immediately apparent and remains under investigation by Criminal Investigation Division (CID) as a death investigation, said Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Operations Commander, Major Lafayette Woods, Jr.
Harris’ body will be sent to the State Crime Laboratory for an autopsy to be performed by the State Medical Examiner to determine cause and manner of death, said Jefferson County Coroner, Chad Kelly.