DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY/dewayne@mcnews.online
SCOTT COUNTY – A two year missing person case took a major turn recently when human remains found in Scott County were identified as those of Wanda Gill. Gill was first reported missing May 2018 in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Sheriff David White stated that a landowner in Scott County contacted authorities Wednesday, March 18, to report human remains found on his property. MCSO was contacted by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the Arkansas State Police who were investigating the scene.
In a statement, Sheriff White states that he and Deputy Willie Bartell went to the scene. DNA gathered at the scene was sent to the state medical examiner’s office for identification. The DNA profile tested from the remains matched the DNA profile recovered from other evidence submitted, as well as collected from Gill’s relatives.
Sheriff White’s office was first notified of Gill’s disappearance May 23, 2018 when they were asked to do a welfare check by her employer. They had not been in contact with her since April 26, 2018.
Sheriff White visited the campground where she was staying, but found no one there. May 27, 2018 MCSO received a phone call reporting there were people at her campsite. Sheriff White made contact with Gill’s husband, Joe Gill. The Sheriff’s Office also attempted to contact her through Facebook, but there was no response.
The investigation into Gill’s disappearance led Sheriff White, along with ASP Investigator Bo Norris, to Arkansas City July 13, 2018 after her vehicle had been spotted in that area. Monticello Police Department assisted in this leg of the investigation. They were able to obtain video from locations where Wanda’s debit card had been used. Officers determined that two males, Joe Gill and his son, Hunter Gill, were the persons who had used her debit card.
Sheriff White and ASP Investigator Norris tracked Joe and Hunter Gill to a motel in Wake Village, Arkansas. Sheriff White, along with state and local law enforcement made contact with the two men at the hotel. Joe Gill shot himself in the restroom of his motel room while law enforcement officers attempted to question him.
Law enforcement agencies continued to pursue the case and the location of Wanda Gill’s body, however they had not been to locate her until her remains were found in Scott county March 18, 2020.
No charges have been filed in the case and Sheriff White stated that the investigation into Wanda Gill’s death continues.
