Authorities have made a significant breakthrough in the case of a missing Monroe County woman. A 65-year-old man has been arrested in connection with her death. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, in collaboration with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, discovered human remains during a search of a rural pond in the county. The investigation is linked to the disappearance of 88-year-old Betty L. Hayes from Holliday, Missouri, who was last heard from in December 2021.
On Friday afternoon, troopers and deputies conducted a search of a rural pond in Monroe County. This search was what led to the discovery of human remains. Investigators determined that the remains belonged to Betty Hayes. The elderly woman had been missing since December 16th, 2021, was believed to be at her residence on Route C southeast of Holliday at the time of her disappearance. Now that her remains have been discovered, an autopsy will be conducted so that her cause of death can be determined.
In a significant development, authorities arrested 65-year-old Lyle Miller of Madison on Friday evening in connection with Betty Hayes’ death. The Monroe County prosecutor has charged Miller with second-degree murder. He is currently being held without bond.
Following Betty Hayes’ disappearance, law enforcement agencies conducted extensive searches in the vicinity of her home, utilizing both air and ground resources. The investigation spanned several months, with her family anxiously awaiting news of her whereabouts. In March 2022, some of Hayes’s family members spoke with ABC 17 News, describing her as a loving, hardworking, and caring individual. Hayes had dedicated over 35 years of her life to nursing and had resided in her farmhouse in Holliday for more than six decades.
The arrest of Lyle Miller brings a glimmer of closure to the family, who have been grappling with the uncertainty surrounding Betty Hayes’ disappearance. As the investigation progresses, authorities will continue to piece together the events leading to her tragic demise.