No foul play suspected in case of found remains

Callaway sheriff
Callaway sheriff

The remains discovered near County Road 311 in Callaway County have been positively identified as those of Loy Peters, 39, of Fulton.

No foul play is suspected in Peters' death, according to Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism. The Boone-Callaway Medical Examiner's Office made the identification Monday, and Chism publicly released the information Tuesday.

"He was loving, kind and always there to help someone," said Jennifer Peters, who said she was Loy's wife at the time of his death. "He was an amazing father and husband."

An area resident discovered the remains while walking through an area of woods Feb. 24.

Jennifer Peters and Chism both said the remains were suspected to be Loy's beginning early in the investigation. Jennifer said Loy's identification was found with the remains.

Out of respect for family members, the Sheriff's Office has declined to release information beyond what's contained in a Tuesday news release.

"Throughout the investigation, we have remained in constant contact with Peters' immediate family," Chism said in the release. "While it was believed early in the investigation the remains were those of Peters, a positive identification could not be made pending the final results of the medical examinations."

Loy went missing in June 2016 following a mental health crisis and conflict with a family member, Jennifer said.

"Everyone thought he was in Texas," she said.

She said authorities told her he likely died shortly after his disappearance.

"I'm hurt because we thought he disappeared," she said. "I will always love that man with everything in me. If he'd reached out, it would have been so much better."

The Sheriff's Office did not list an official cause of death in Tuesday's news release.

"Due to the advanced decomposition of the remains, various examinations were needed to further the death investigation itself and ultimately reach a final conclusion," Chism said. "This was time intensive. Based on the investigation, scene findings, and related medical examinations, this death is not considered as being the result of foul play."