Full Breakdown
Memphis Police Investigate Unidentified Remains of Three Children in Hickory Hill Woods
4/25/2026, 2:37:55 AM
Discovery and Ongoing Search
On March 8, 2026, a resident walking a dog in the 3400-block of Ridge Meadow Parkway, near Ridgeway Road and Winchester Road in the Hickory Hill neighborhood, reported a skull that appeared human. Responding officers confirmed the find and, because of limited lighting, postponed a full search until the following morning. Subsequent sweeps uncovered a second skull in a nearby drainage pipe on April 1 and, on April 2, a coordinated canvass recovered 14 additional bone fragments. All recovered material has been identified by the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office as belonging to three children estimated to be between three and seven years old. The cause of death remains undetermined, and no matching missing-person reports have been located.
Timeline of Investigation
- Mar 8 – Dog walker reports possible human skull; police locate skull at edge of woods.
- Mar 9-10 – Expanded search; cadaver K-9 alerts to nearby drainage pipe; camera inspection finds no remains.
- Mar 16 – Additional camera inspection of drainage system; no remains found.
- Apr 1 – Investigators access drainage pipe from a different point and locate a second skull.
- Apr 2 – Search teams recover 14 bone fragments consistent with human remains.
- Apr 22 – Approximately 170 personnel conduct a final sweep of the crime-scene area; officials state the active search phase will close that evening.
Scope and Resources
The operation has involved roughly 170 personnel from multiple agencies, including the Memphis Police Department homicide unit, the FBI, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Memphis Fire Department, and Shelby County Search & Rescue teams. Cadaver dogs, camera systems, and forensic specialists have been deployed to locate and analyze the remains.
Official Statements & Responses
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis emphasized that the investigation is “methodical” and that there is “no indication of any active threat to the public.” She noted that the remains appear to have been in the area for “a few years” based on forensic analysis. The department has reviewed recent missing-person reports and found no matches, suggesting the children may have originated outside the immediate Memphis jurisdiction. Federal, state, and local partners are assisting with DNA extraction and identification efforts. Authorities have repeatedly urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers (901-528-2274) or the MPD Homicide Bureau (901-636-3300).
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources describe the elapsed time of the remains as “a few years,” “several years,” or “for a few years,” reflecting minor variation in phrasing but consistent consensus that the bones are not recent. No agency has disclosed the children’s identities, race, or exact ages, and the cause of death remains unknown. The lack of matching missing-person reports creates a gap in linking the victims to any known cases.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is heartbreaking, it's disturbing and at this time we have numerous resources to help us to identify these young people and bring closure to this investigation.” — Cerelyn “CJ” Davis, Memphis Police Chief
- “Somebody knows where these children have come from. Someone knows of missing children that we have discovered in this area,” — Cerelyn “CJ” Davis
- “We know that this individual was not, or these individuals were not, persons that were reported out of our area,” — Cerelyn “CJ” Davis
- “The size of this response reflects the scope of the search area and our commitment to being thorough and not the presence of any immediate danger," Davis said, noting there is no indication of any active threat to the public.” — Cerelyn “CJ” Davis
- “We are following the evidence wherever it leads,” — Cerelyn “CJ” Davis
- “We understand that this information is very difficult and deeply concerning to all of us.” — Cerelyn “CJ” Davis
Why It Matters
The discovery underscores challenges in locating missing children who may not be reported in local databases, raising concerns about regional coordination among law-enforcement and child-welfare agencies. The extensive multi-agency response reflects the seriousness with which authorities treat unidentified child fatalities, while the public appeal highlights community reliance on tip lines to resolve such cases. Continued forensic work aims to provide closure for any families and to determine whether broader systemic issues contributed to the children’s disappearance.
