Authorities in St. Genevieve, Mo., say skeletal remains found on a Missouri Baptist lobbyist’s farm are likely the body of his wife who has been missing for 28 months.
Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff Gary Stolzer told local media a body discovered Tuesday evening on the family farm is likely Lynn Messer, wife of Missouri Family Network founder Kerry Messer, who according to her husband vanished before dawn on the morning of July 8, 2014.
Kerry and Lynn Messer (Photo/Find Lynn Messer Facebook page)
Authorities say the remains were discovered shortly before dusk by a family member scouting a spot for deer hunting on the sound end of the family’s 250-acre farm about a mile from the Messer home.
The sheriff said the investigation has been turned over to the FBI. He said the identity is not 100 percent confirmed, but the discovery of glasses and artificial hips make it “very likely” the skeleton belongs to the woman who, at age 52 when she disappeared, had undergone two hip replacement surgeries.
Messer, who lobbies at the state capital on behalf of conservative groups including the Missouri Baptist Convention, posted a thank you to people who have been praying for the family on a Find Lynn Messer Facebook page. It was originally started to enlist and coordinate volunteer search parties following her disappearance.
“Please be in prayer for our family, which has been torn apart by all the stress and circumstances surrounding this past 28-months ordeal,” Messer posted Nov. 2. “I have no idea what will transpire moving forward from today. However, the critics are going wild with accusations and the media is hounding.”
After the searches ended Messer took over the page to post occasional updates and more frequently journal-like entries about memories of their marriage and his spiritual and emotional journey.
Recently details emerged about a rift in the family when one of Messer’s sons said publicly he believes his father knows more about Lynn’s disappearance than he is saying.
Stolzer said there was no immediate evidence of foul play at the scene, and investigators may never know what happened to cause her death. Asked by a reporter at a media briefing if Kerry Messer is a suspect, the sheriff said: “I’m not going to comment on that. I don’t want to comment on that part. We’re not ruling anything out until we have a pathology report.”
Kerry Messer founded the Missouri Family Network in 1984. In the 1990s he worked alongside fellow conservative layman Roger Moran in the Missouri Baptist Laymen’s Association, a research organization alleging liberalism in moderate groups like the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Previous stories:
Lynn Messer still missing after a year
Lobbyist enlists hunters to search for missing wife
Search for lobbyist’s wife enters second month
Lobbyist’s wife still missing after six months
Search for lobbyist’s wife in second week
Missing person case strains family of Missouri Baptist lobbyist