Couple arrested after body found buried in backyard amid search for missing mother

Jackson, MS – A husband and wife are in custody following the discovery of a body in their backyard during a search for his missing mother. Authorities began their investigation after a family member reported 81-year-old Carol Ryan missing.

Ryan was expected to be at a nursing home in Brandon, just outside Jackson, but family had not heard from her for several months. On Tuesday, Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones confirmed details of the case to reporters.

The investigation led to the home of 50-year-old John Ryan and his 48-year-old wife, Samantha Ryan. Police stated that all three had lived at the residence at one time.

Investigators obtained a warrant and searched the backyard with cadaver dogs that indicated the presence of human remains. They brought in excavators and discovered a body wrapped in a tarp and covered with concrete in a grave approximately six to eight feet deep.

A medical examiner will identify the remains and determine the cause and manner of death. The human remains were buried long before Carol Ryan was reported missing, according to the police chief.

The search for Carol Ryan remains active until the identity of the remains is confirmed.

John Ryan and Samantha Ryan face one count each of desecration of a human corpse. John Ryan is being held at Hinds County Jail on a $100,000 bond, while Samantha Ryan’s bond is set at $75,000.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may follow as more evidence comes to light.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.