Birmingham, AL 10/05/2016
Human remains discovered in western Jefferson County on Saturday have been identified as those of couple missing from Walker County.
Just before 4:30 pm this past Saturday deputies responded to a report of the discovery of human remains in a shallow grave at the end of Oakdale Road near the town of West Jefferson. One set of remains was found partially buried in a shallow grave and another area believed to be a grave was located adjacent to that.
On Monday a Forensic Recovery Team from the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office returned to the scene to collect the remains. A second set of remains was found in the second shallow grave.
Late Tuesday afternoon the Jefferson County Medical Examiner determined the identity of both victims. They are identified as 39-year-old Dustin Turner and 30-year-old Jennifer Phillips both of Quinton in Walker County. The couple was reported missing to the Walker County Sheriff’s Office on September 14, 2016. They were last seen at their home in Walker County about four miles from where they were found.
Their bodies were discovered Saturday afternoon by a family friend who was assisting in a search for them. The friend told deputies that he was familiar with the area and had been provided a map that indicated the areas where the couple’s cell phones were last used.
The investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided as they become available. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 205-325-1450 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777