The body of a Missouri woman was found on railroad tracks in Jones County after it was believed to have been run over by at least one train.
Jones County Fatality investigator Lt. Kenny Allen said he received a call May 8 about a female struck by a train near the intersection of Largo Drive and Henderson Road. Allen said a deputy had located the body, but that area of the track was not accessible by vehicle.
The investigator said they had to walk about a half of a mile off the road to get to the site where the body was found. He said there were no houses in the area.
Allen said he spoke with Norfolk Southern officials who said when the 2:30 p.m. train went through the area, there was nothing on the tracks, but it was spotted when the train came back, headed to Savannah, at 8 p.m.
The deceased has been identified as 53-year-old Melissa G. Willett from Moberly, Missouri.
The investigator said there is a camera on the front of the train that picked up the body, but it was too late for the train to stop.
“We suspect she was riding the train and fell off, or attempted to jump off, the 2:30 p.m. train,” he said.
Allen said it is a good possibility that the deceased was hit by the 2:30 train when she either jumped or fell and was struck the second time by the 8 p.m. train. “The video from the front of the 2:30 train shows the track clear, but the body was on the track at 8 p.m.,” he said.
Willett was identified by her fingerprints with the help of the FBI, which involved phone calls to several contacts to secure her name and information.
Allen said he was able to track down the daughter of the deceased with the help of the Columbia County Police Department in Missouri. He said during his investigation, he found out Willett was estranged from her family had been homeless for some time.
The investigator said the body of the deceased was taken to the crime lab Tuesday, May 17, and he was waiting for results. He said he is expecting the death to be determined to be accidental.
“There isn’t much doubt she died of her injuries from the train, but we have to confirm there is no other reason for her death,” he added.
