On 10/14/2024, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a potential bank fraud. Upon further investigation Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office identified the potential victim of the case. After several weeks of attempting to locate the male subject of the potential fraud the Detectives changed the case from bank fraud to a missing person report. Detectives contacted the family and found that the male subject was estranged from his immediate family for years. While scouring over previous reports and records search, the Detectives found where the missing male’s van was abandoned on private property in March but was towed from that property in Bates County in April this year..
On Wednesday November 13th, a small search and rescue team converged on the private property where the vehicle was towed from in April. While doing a physical ground search, a drone operator directed the search crews to an area of interest. Ground searchers located skeletal remains in that area on arrival. The scene was secured and a request was sent to the Bates County Coroner for his assistance.
On Thursday November 14th, the scene was processed under guidance from a forensic anthropologist, remains were collected by BCSO Detectives, Bates County Coroner with the assistance from a crime Scene Team from Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Ultimately these remains will be transferred for full examination at the Forensic Anthropology Unit at Washburn University and confirmation of ID. The skeletal remains are believed to belong to Danny Austin, a 63 year old male from Foster Missouri.
This is still an active and ongoing death investigation. The Bates County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating Mr. Austin’s wife, 83 year old Virginia Herod. A second person the Sheriff’s Office is seeking the whereabouts of is Ashley Renee Mays (Becerra) who has potential information connected to this case. In the late evening hours of the 14th the Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a Hume residence known to be where Ashley Mays was staying.
If you know the whereabouts of Ashley Mays (Becerra) or Virginia Herod. Please contact Detective Jeremy Davis at 660-679-3232 or email at Jdavis@batescountysheriff.com
