Remains Found In Burnt Jeep Being Sought In Connection With Abduction
SECOND UPDATE: On the morning of October 23, 2024, Cody Lee Hunt was taken into custody at a residence in Washington County, MO by the Washington County Sheriff's Department. He was transported to the Washington County Jail before being transferred to the custody of the Sullivan Police Department. The investigation remains ongoing. All individuals involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
UPDATE: Sullivan Police Department just notified Sullivan Independent News that the suspect, Cody Lee Hunt, is now in custody in Washington County.
Remains Found In Burnt Jeep Being Sought In Connection With Abduction
By James B. Bartle
Sullivan Police have announced that at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night, October 22, Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a wooded are south of Potosi for a reported brush fire.
Deputies arrived and located a Jeep Cherokee that had been set on fire with human remains located inside the vehicle.
The remains have not been identified at this time but the Jeep Cherokee has been identified as the vehicle owned by Dale W. Ryerson, 63, Sullivan, who was reported as an endangered person by Sullivan Police and Missouri Highway Patrol on Tuesday.
Sullivan Police initially released the following Tuesday evening:
On 10/22/2024, at approximately 12:40 am, Sullivan Police Department Officers were dispatched to a residence on the 300 block of Jones Street in Sullivan, MO., Franklin County, for a report of a check the well being on a 63 year old white male. The reporting party stated that they heard a disturbance at the 63 year old man's residence, approximately a half hour earlier, and then saw someone drag or carry the 63 year old man out to his 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The subject placed the 63 year old man into the passenger seat of the vehicle and they drove off. Upon Officers arrival they observed the front door to the residence unsecured. Officers entered the residence and found evidence of a struggle and possible assault. Officers immediately placed a Be On the Look Out message to surrounding agencies for the Jeep Cherokee, bearing MO license plate of EK3R7P, and entered 63 year old Dale W. Ryerson as a missing/endangered person and placed an Endangered Person Advisory out. Police are seeking any information on the location of Ryerson and his Jeep Cherokee. Police are also seeking the location of 34 year old Cody Lee Hunt as a person of interest in this investigation. If located do not approach. Contact your nearest law enforcement agency. Hunt is to be considered armed and dangerous.
Again, If Hunt is located, do not attempt to make contact. He is considered armed and dangerous. Contact 911 or your local law enforcement agency
Hunt has an extensive criminal history, according to Missouri Court Records and was recently released from prison with reports indicating that he had not made contact with his parole officer, in Washington County since his release.