Human remains believed to be missing Mt. Pleasant woman

MT. PLEASANT - Human skeletal remains found along a quiet road in Henry County last March are believed to be those of 24-year-old Jackie Douthart, the Division of Criminal Investigation announced Wednesday.

The bones were discovered along Old Highway 34 between Lockridge and Rome by two kids riding their bikes on a Saturday afternoon.

"Nuclear DNA profiling failed to develop a profile for the remains," said Special Agent Jeff Uhlmeyer of the Division of Criminal Investigation.

Uhlmeyer said investigators found possessions belonging to Douthart along with the remains, which lead to their conclusion that the bones are those of Douthart.

Investigators say the cause of remains undetermined.

Douthart was first reported missing last May when she didn't return home after a night out with friends. Ben Biggs, 24, a "person of interest" in the case committed suicide in June after a police chase and standoff in Western Illinois.

Tuesday night family members and friends held a vigil in Mount Pleasant to mark the one year anniversary of Douthart's disappearance.