UPDATE @ 7:24 p.m.: The female found dead in a crashed SUV in Mercer County this afternoon is believed to be Shawna Rue Ressler, who was last seen the morning of Aug. 4 and the subject of a missing person investigation, Darke County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Mark Whittaker said.
>> Darke, Mercer deputies searching farms, woods for missing woman
About 1 p.m., the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a black Chevy Trail Blazer had been found on Stateline Road, south of Fox Road, in a steep ditch. The vehicle was covered in a woods and vegetation.
The Darke County Sheriff’s Office, also notified of the discovery, sent deputies as well.
The Trail Blazer, registered to Ressler, was occupied by one deceased person. The clothing on the victim, other identifying marks on the body and personal belongings in the vehicle led investigators to believe the deceased may be Ressler.
Positive ID of the body is pending a forensic examination by the Mercer County Coroner’s Office.
As a result of these preliminary findings, the Darke County Sheriff’s Office is suspending the missing person investigation.
Mercer County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives are investigating the crash.
Both Sheriff’s Office continued to work this joint investigation..
INITIAL REPORT
A police investigation is underway in Fort Recovery in the area of Indiana State Line Road.
Multiple law enforcement vehicles are in the area.
It is not clear at this time what the investigation is regarding.
We have crews on scene and we will update this story as we learn more.
