ME Identifies Two Whose Remains Were Found In Foss Lake

The Medical Examiner’s Office has positively identified two people whose skeletal remains were found in Foss Lake back in September, 2013.

The remains of six people were found in cars discovered during an OHP sonar training exercise. Deputies believe the cars were under water for 40 to 50 years.

8/5/2014 Related Story: New Developments In Investigation Into Foss Lake Human Remains

Custer County Sheriff Bruce Peoples said one car could belong to a missing Sayre teenager. Jimmy Williams, 16, took his two friends, 18-year-olds Michael Rios and Leah Johnson, for a ride in his blue Camaro in 1970. The three haven't been seen since.

The second car, a 1950s, 4-door, Chevy sedan, is believed to have belonged to three people from Washita County, Nora Duncan, John Alva Porter and Clebern Hammack. The three went missing in the early 1960s.

On Friday, August 8, the ME’s office announced it has positively identified one set of skeletal remains, found in the Chevy sedan, as those of Clebern Hammack. According to the autopsy report, Hammack was not injured at the time of his death. The cause of his death has been determined as probable drowning, and the manner of death was accidental.

According to Hammack's autopsy report, along with his remains, authorities recovered a tooled leather wallet, right sock, and the sole of a right shoe. 

The ME has also positively identified one set of skeletal remains found in the Camaro as those of Jimmi Allen Williams. Williams, authorities said, was also not injured at the time of his death. Based on the lack of trauma to the remains, the minimal amount of damage to the vehicle containing the remains and the location where the car was found, authorities determined Williams’ cause of death as drowning. His manner of death appears to be accidental.

According to Williams' autopsy report, along with his remains, authorities also recovered a pair of brown cowboy boots, a belt, a brown wallet with an Oklahoma Driver's License, a Sayre bank card, a 1972 gold-colored Sayre High Eagles ring, and more. 

9/17/2013 Related Story: Investigators Work To ID Foss Lake Skeletons

The remains of the other four have not been positively identified, according to the ME’s office. However, according to their autopsy reports, all four were not injured at the time of their deaths. The ME has determined their cause of death as probable drowning. Their manner of death was accidental, as well.

Items recovered along with two people's remains in the Chevy sedan include, a bra strap, panty hose, bilateral red shoes, a metal leaf brooch, as well as a full maxillary denture, a tooled leather wallet, a fragment of a tooled leather belt, oval metal buckle, bilateral socks, soles of cowboy boots, fabric pieces of a green/blue plaid shirt, and more.

In the Camaro, along with two people's remains, authorities recovered a pair of purple pants, sole and heel components of two shoes, a yellow-colored watch band, as well as a grey, collared shirt, blue pair of slacks, dark colored lace up shoes and more. 

Along with the autopsy reports, the ME’s office also released two Anthropologist Consultation reports on Friday. According to those reports, authorities believe one set of skeletal remains found in the Chevy sedan are those of Nora Marie Duncan, and another set of skeletal remains found in the Camaro are those of Thomas Michael Rios.

The ME's office said it is still waiting for positive DNA identifications on the other four people.