INDIANAPOLIS -- The discovery of Jill Behrman's remains 22 miles away from where officials thought it might have been raises a number of questions in the investigation.
Officials announced Thursday that remains found in a wooded area of southern Morgan County this week are those of Behrman, an Indiana University student who was reported missing nearly three years ago.
Sources close to the investigation told RTV6 last month on condition of anonymity that authorities focused on searching a Monroe County creek after Wendy Owings, 28, confessed that she and two other people were in a truck that struck Behrman.
Owings allegedly told investigators that she and the other two -- Alisha Sowders, 21, and Uriah Clouse -- took Behrman to Salt Creek. Owings allegedly said they stabbed her there, wrapped her in plastic and dumped her in the water, Fraidin reported.
On Thursday, Owings' lawyer, Stuart Baggerly, told
RTV6's Sarah Fraidin that his client -- who police say has passed a lie-detector test -- stands by her story.
According to staff at the Monroe County Jail, where Owings is being held on charges not related to the case, Owings collapsed in shock when her lawyer told her Behrman (pictured, left) was found in Morgan County -- not in Salt Creek.
"She had courage to come forward with some information," Baggerly said. "I still have faith in Wendy Owings. I have not lost that.
"The allegation is that Jill was placed in Salt Creek. There's nothing to say that somebody could not be later removed from Salt Creek.
"There is obviously a distinct possibility that what is being reported is accurate -- that things went on after my client's involvement ceased," Baggerly said.
Sowders also is in the Monroe County Jail on charges not related to the Behrman case.
Clouse, who was publicly identified by authorities as a suspect last year, is being held in the Brown County Jail on a rape charge not related to the Behrman case.
Clouse's attorney, John Plummer III, told RTV6 that the discovery of Behrman's remains in Morgan County casts doubt on the investigators' theory. He believes it's proof that Owings has been pointing the finger at an innocent man, Fraidin reported.
"I certainly think it puts Wendy Owings' story to shame. I think it's false," Plummer said, who is representing Clouse on the unrelated rape charge. "It does not make sense scientifically, unless the body was moved.
"Tomorrow (Friday), I think we have to take another look at whether or not the truth has been told thus far."
No one has been charged in the Behrman case.
Investigators Prepare Wooded Area For More SearchesInvestigators Friday morning were clearing underbrush from the area where Behrman's remains were found, hoping to help an anthropologist who will search for more evidence.
The remains were found Sunday a few miles from State Road 67, near Paragon.
Indiana State Police Detective Rick Lang said the University of Indianapolis anthropologist intends to reexamine the area once the underbrush is cleared.
Police have continuously guarded the area since Thursday, and will do so until at least Monday, Lang said.
Officials at Thursday's news conference said clues have been gleaned from the remains, but the cause of death has not been conclusively determined.
Details about what the remains reveal are being withheld.
"The only (other) people that know what injuries were sustained to Ms. Behrman are the people that were responsible for it. We're holding that information as an integral part of the investigation," Indiana State Police spokesman Dave Bursten said.
"The investigation starts afresh. Everything done to this point is still valid. At this point, everyone that was a suspect is still a suspect," he said.
Investigators hope Behrman's remains will yield evidence such as DNA that would provide a direct link to a suspect, Fraidin reported.
Police are expected to spend two weeks analyzing the remains in an Indianapolis laboratory before returning them to the Behrman family.
People with information related to the case are asked to call the Putnamville state police post at (800) 225-8576 or the Morgan County Sheriff's Department at (765) 342-5544.
Previous Stories: - March 14, 2003: Bones Found In Woods Identified As Jill Behrman's
- March 12, 2003: Evidence Found That Helps Bones Investigation
- March 10, 2003: Bone Discovery Catches Attention Of Missing Women's Parents
- March 10, 2003: Hunters Find Human Skull, Other Remains
- March 5, 2003: Behrman's Father: Meeting With Prosecutor 'Productive'
- February 27, 2003: Sources: Confession Led To Creek Search For Behrman
- December 20, 2002: Prosecutor Reviewing Evidence In Behrman Case
- October 11, 2002: Behrman Suspect Charged In 2001 Rape Case
- September 23, 2002: Officials Suspend Behrman Search
- September 17, 2002: Behrman Search Continues As Her Birthday Passes
- September 17, 2002: Behrman Investigators Find More Possible Evidence In Creek
- September 16, 2002: Possible Evidence Found In Behrman Case
- September 9, 2002: Behrman Investigators To Drain Portion Of Creek
- August 30, 2002: Agents Searching For Cars In Behrman Case
- August 1, 2002: Behrman Investigators Suspend Search Of Creek
- July 31, 2002: Behrman Search Resumes Thursday At Salt Creek
- May 31, 2002: Behrman Investigators: We're Looking For Pickup Truck
- May 31, 2002: Bloomington Marks Anniversary Of Behrman's Disappearance
- April 13, 2002: Behrman Suspect Faces New Charges
- April 12, 2002: Judge To Decide Bond For Man Investigated In Behrman Case
- April 10, 2002: Defense Attorney Links Jailed Man To Behrman Probe
- April 4, 2002: Detectives Theorize Behrman Was Hit Accidentally
Copyright 2007 by TheIndyChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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