The Hinds County coroner says the remains will go to the state medical examiner for testing and identification.
JACKSON, Miss. — Jackson police opened an investigation Monday evening after infant remains were discovered in a shallow grave behind a home on Jeanette Circle, officials said. The call drew officers, crime scene units and the Hinds County coroner to the 4000 block as darkness fell.
Authorities said the remains appeared to have been buried for several days, prompting a forensic review to determine the infant’s age and how the remains came to be behind the residence. Interim Hinds County Coroner Jeremiah Howard said his office will send the remains to the state medical examiner for an autopsy and to seek positive identification. Police have not announced arrests or suspects as of Tuesday and have not disclosed who reported the discovery. The case is in its early stages, with investigators canvassing the neighborhood and reviewing how and when the grave was created.
Officers were called to the home Monday, Nov. 17, and were directed to the backyard, where they located the shallow grave and secured the scene. The home sits on Jeanette Circle, just off Timber Crest Drive in south Jackson. Howard said investigators are working to establish whether the remains are those of a fetus or a newborn. “It could be from premature childbirth or miscarriage. All this is very early in the investigation,” Howard said. He added that the infant will be sent to the state medical examiner’s office and that testing will include steps “for positive identification to match the mom.” Police did not release information about the residents of the home or how the discovery was made. Crime scene tape remained up as investigators searched the yard and collected evidence late into the evening.
Officials said determining the gestational age and any signs of injury or trauma will guide the next steps. Howard said the condition of the remains suggested they had been there several days. Detectives are reviewing calls for service and hospital notifications from recent days to see whether any medical events might be related. The Jackson Police Department did not provide a time of the initial call or say whether officers were first to identify the site. The department has also not confirmed whether anyone connected to the property has been interviewed or detained. The coroner’s office said all testing will go through the state medical examiner, which handles autopsies for unattended or suspicious deaths and fetal remains when cause and manner are unclear.
Jeanette Circle is a residential street of single-story homes and fenced yards. Neighbors said patrol units and marked SUVs arrived quickly and closed off the area while the grave was uncovered and documented. The discovery comes as Jackson police continue to manage a heavy caseload of violent crime and unattended deaths heading into the holiday season, when calls often rise. While every case is different, local investigators typically coordinate with the coroner and the medical examiner to confirm whether remains reflect a natural loss, a medical emergency, or a criminal act. That determination hinges on the autopsy, the timeline built from witness statements and any physical evidence recovered in the yard.
From here, the coroner will transfer custody of the remains to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy, identification and DNA comparison. Investigators will seek to match the remains to any recent reports involving pregnancy complications, miscarriages or emergency room visits. If the autopsy finds no injuries and confirms a miscarriage or nonviable premature birth, detectives will note those findings and decide whether any additional review is needed. If the medical examiner identifies trauma or signs of concealment inconsistent with natural causes, police could present the case to Hinds County prosecutors for potential charges. No court filings were listed as of Tuesday, Nov. 18. Police said updates will come as test results are returned. Authorities did not set a timeline, but preliminary findings from autopsies are typically available within days, with final toxicology taking longer.
Yellow tape still hung from corner fence posts Tuesday morning, and a light wind moved the plastic as cars slowed to look. A woman who lives nearby, who gave only her first name, said she saw “a lot of blue lights” and officers walking the yards with flashlights. “It was quiet and then it wasn’t,” she said. Another neighbor said investigators spoke briefly with residents up and down the street and asked about unusual noises or visitors in recent days. “They were respectful but focused,” he said, adding that officers asked people to avoid the area behind the homes while they worked. Howard said his staff will notify next of kin once identification is made and will coordinate with investigators if interviews are needed.
Police said the investigation remains open. The scene on Jeanette Circle was released overnight, and the remains are being transferred for autopsy. Officials said the next public milestone will be preliminary findings from the state medical examiner and any identification updates, expected after lab intake and review. As of Tuesday afternoon, no arrests had been announced and no further details had been released.
Author note: Last updated November 18, 2025.