Floating down the Mississippi through the numerous meanders and ever-changing terrains can be a mesmerising experience. But there’s something about the river, something sinister beneath its murky waters that people often don’t want to acknowledge – how many bodies are in the Mississippi River? Although it’s an incredibly difficult figure to estimate, it’s thought that a shockingly high number of unknown people now lay on the riverbed.
It’s clear to see why the Mississippi River is an attractive dumping ground for people who need to dispose of a body. The river is particularly wide and flows swiftly with a wide collection of marshes and tributaries, making it a difficult one to police. This would explain why the banks of the Mississippi are renowned for being the graveyard of a tragically high number of murder victims.
The International Business Times estimates that there could be as many as 10,000 bodies currently in the depths of the Mississippi River. Here, they join the numerous other bodies lost to the morbid history of the river, including victims of the mob associated with the famous New Orleans suicide gang of the early 20th century. What’s more, the river is also widely thought to have been the final resting place of up to 2,000 victims of the devastating floods of 1927.
Over recent years, the Mississippi River has been subject to several different studies from forensic forensic scientists focusing on the amount of unidentified bodies in its depths. Most of these studies overwhelmingly support the notion that there is a sizeable number of unnamed individuals in its waters. Many cases of unidentified individuals have even been sent to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), a national database for missing and unidentified persons, for evaluation in recent years.
In 2017, for instance, the Mississippi River was the final resting ground for one unidentified female, who had spent more than sixty days submerged in the river before finally being discovered. The anonymous woman had brown hair, pierced ears and distinctive tattoos on her hip and chest. Though extensive investigative measures were taken, her identity remains unknown and the case is still open to this day.
Although much of the work done by forensic analysts revolves around cold cases, it is not limited too those cases. Recently, an 84-year-old man was found in the river after going missing during his daily walk. Although he was located fairly quickly, authorities are looking further into the case, to determine how the elderly man ended up in the Mississippi River.
Government Action
Given the magnitude of the problem and the potential social implications, the US government have recently launched an extensive investigation into the amount of bodies in the Mississippi River, as well as its implications. In particular, the US Department of Justice has acknowledged the inherent dangers in such a large body of water and is currently working with local authorities to help identify individuals whose bodies have been dumped in the river.
Although no convincing statistics exist to provide a definite answer to the number of corpses in the Mississippi River, it is considered a matter of grave importance by both the US government and the public alike. Even so, there is still much that needs to be done if the issue of how many bodies are in the Mississippi River is to ever be resolved.
Local Action
In addition to the government’s efforts, many local organisations are also taking steps to help solve this problem. One particular example is the Memphis Police Department’s Millington Body Awareness Project, created to help raise awareness about the issue of body dumping in the river. This department works closely with both residents in the city and the surrounding communities, helping to inform people about the dangers of disposing of bodies in the Mississippi.
For instance, the department has put up promotional posters around the city, distributing flyers and launching a website where people can share information or find resources related to the subject. In addition, the department also holds annual talks and seminars to further spread the message and create a better understanding of the dangers of body dumping in the Mississippi River.
Environmental Impact
Despite the complex implications of the matter, the environmental impact of the count must also be taken into consideration. What’s more, with so many bodies buried beneath its waters, the Mississippi River is deemed to have a highly detrimental ecological impact. The decomposing bodies release dangerous chemicals, such as ammonia and methyl mercury, which can be extremely hazardous to the local wildlife and eco-systems.
Adding to this, the flow of the Mississippi River is important in maintaining water levels, however, with bodies blocking its streams, the river cannot function to its full capacity. This can create obstacles for the fish, causing them to become trapped in standing pools of water.
Ongoing Search
As of yet, no real answer exists to the question ‘how many bodies are in the Mississippi River?’. Nonetheless, with the efforts of both local and governmental organisations, it is hoped that over time, we will be closer to discovering an answer to this question.
Finding out exactly how many bodies are resting beneath its murky depths is an imperative part of addressing the consequences of illegal body dumping, as well as its effects on the environment. With continued investigation and further public awareness, it’s possible that this question may one day be answered.
Body Identification
In order to help identify any bodies found in the river, forensics have had to come up with more sophisticated techniques than ever before. With the help of facial recognition technology, evolving methods of DNA analysis, and fingerprint analysis, forensics are more capable than ever of pinpointing the origins of unidentified corpses.
The technologies available for identifying remains found in the river are leaps ahead of what was available even a few years ago. This means that the process of searching the depths of the Mississippi River for the thousands of bodies thought to be buried there may soon become easier and more efficient.
For the families of those who have gone missing and whose bodies may now lie beneath the currents of the mighty Mississippi, the thought of being able to identify them may bring a sense of closure and relief. However, with so much mystery still surrounding the amount of bodies in the depths of the Mississippi River, it could be some time until a real answer to the question is found.
DNA Databases
In recent years, the use of DNA databases has become an invaluable tool in the search for the identities of bodies recovered from the Mississippi River. For instance, with the help of state and local DNA databases, authorities are better equipped to compare genetic profiles and put names to some of the bodies found in the river.
What’s more, in cases of unidentified individuals, the DNA database is often the only source of information available. This means that the use of a database, and the ability to cross-reference and analyse genetic material, can be essential in piecing together what happened to some of the unknown individuals whose bodies are now lost in the river.
Conclusion
The number of bodies in the Mississippi River may remain unknown, however this does not mean we are not any closer to providing closure for the families of those who went missing. With the vast array of technologies now available to forensic scientists in the search for the identities of bodies, as well as the efforts of local and governmental organisations, it is possible that one day, an answer to this question may be found.
