POLICE INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY AFTER HUMAN FETUS REMAINS FOUND IN PAINTSVILLE, KY. SEWER PLANT
BODY FOUND IN INFILTRATION PUMP BY UTILITY WORKER AT THE SEWER PLANT
JANUARY 28, 2023 – written by WADE QUEEN
Johnson County Coroner J.R. Frisby reported that the fetal remains were found on Thursday morning, January 26, in the plant’s filtration pump system by an employee of the Paintsville Utilities. Employees from Paintsville Utilities called law enforcement officials after discovering the body.
The remains have since been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort.
Mr. Frisby said it is unknown how far along the fetus had developed, but it was obviously pre-term. He said the fetus would not have been able to survive on its own.
Coroner Frisby also said DNA will be collected from the remains to see if there is a database match, but he added there is no timeframe for when that process would be complete.
This incident continues to be actively investigated by officials in Johnson County.