An identity has been established for the skeletal remains found in a wooded area off of Rock Ranch Road last month.
Pearl River County Coroner Derek Turnage said DNA analysis of the remains, paired with DNA of a relative, helped to establish the remains as belonging to Sidney Joseph Neimann Jr., who was last seen by a roommate in May of 2012, Turnage said. Neimann is estimated to have been about 50-years-old when he disappeared. Positive identification was established Wednesday evening, Turnage said.
Turnage said the DNA of a sister was used to determine his identity. A wallet was found with the remains that contained a driver’s license for a person of the same name, Turnage said.
The remains were found on Jan. 14, by a property owner who was looking for her lost ducks, according to previous coverage by the Item.
Turnage said there was a refuse pile near where the remains were found. That fact led the woman who found the skull to initially believe the skull was a Halloween decoration. However upon closer examination she discovered the skull was real, prompting her to call law enforcement, according to previous coverage.
Turnage said a 12-gauge shotgun was found near the bones, and it appeared to have been discharged into the ground at one point. Pellets were recovered from the dirt at the scene in close proximity to the remains. Turnage said due to the absence of depressions or fractures on the bones, it doesn’t appear as though Neimann was shot.
Before his death Neimann was living in close proximity to where his remains were found, Turnage said. Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Mark Ogden said Neimann was not reported as missing to their department, however during their investigation they learned that a family member had reported him missing to a Louisiana agency, who advised them to also report the case to Pearl River County agencies. Odgen said there is no record of that report being filed with their office. Their investigation determined Neimann had no permanent home, and instead was staying with anyone who would provide a place, Ogden said.
As for a cause of death, Turnage said several scenarios could be a possibility, but there’s no evidence to support any of them. Due to a lack of additional evidence, a true cause of death may never be determined. Ogden said there did not appear to be any signs of foul play, however.
Their investigation did determine that Neimann has possibly made threats of suicide and was suffering from some mental complications, Ogden said.
The remains were returned to family members on Thursday so they could make the proper arrangements, Turnage said.