Death Investigation Focuses on Dental Records

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Perry County Sheriff Keith Kellerman said the investigation into death of a young woman whose body was found late Sunday in Beaucoup Creek west of Du Quoin is focusing on dental records.

The victim's name has not been released. Kellerman said there is evidence from the scene which indicates the death may not have been a suicide. A three-hour autopsy was conducted Monday morning on the badly decomposed body.

Social Web sites are full of speculation that the body is that of a 15-year-old Pinckneyville teen who went missing earlier in the month, was returned home and has been missing for a week since. "I know," said Kellerman, referring to the speculation.

Kellerman met with task force members late Monday to look at the totality of information gathered so far. "We hope to gather enough information to be able to give you a definite answer soon," Kellerman said. "I have no idea how long that will take."