Arkansas Business reported the news first today that the human remains found Wednesday on Petit Jean Mountain are those of John Glasgow, the Little Rock construction executive missing since 2008.
The family scheduled a 4 p.m. news conference.
Nothing is yet known about the cause of death. His disappearance spawned intense speculation over the years.
UPDATE: At the 4 p.m. news conference, John Glasgow’s brother Roger Glasgow spoke for the family. He was joined by John Glasgow’s widow, Melinda, and several other family members.
Roger Glasgow said that he learned from a local news outlet last night around 6 p.m. that skeletal remains had been found on Petit Jean, at which point he called an investigator in the case, who confirmed the report. Glasgow said that today around noon, the Arkansas State Crime lab confirmed through dental records provided by the family that the remains were those of John Glasgow.
Roger Glasgow said that only a skull was found, but no other bones or clothing. Investigators suggest other bones may have been “scattered” after Glasgow’s death. Investigators have told Roger Glasgow that the skull — which he said was found at the bottom of a cliff in a rocky and remote area not near a road or trail about a mile from where his brother’s car was found parked at Mather Lodge — showed no signs of trauma or gunshot wounds. He said there was no weapon found in the area of where the skull was discovered by hikers. In response to a question, Glasgow said that it is his understanding that the closest marked road to where the skull was found was Red Bluff Drive.
The state has called in extra employees and cadaver dogs to look for more remains, Glasgow said, and is bringing in metal detectors to look for objects like rings, buttons and zippers that might be nearby. Glasgow said there was no indication the skull had been buried.
Roger Glasgow said he personally believes his brother’s death was a result of foul play, though he had no evidence of that.
He said that last year, his family erected a memorial stone to his brother in their family cemetery. Glasgow compared the constant wondering about what happened to his brother to a tape in a cassette player. “You think about all the possible things that could have happened, and then you turn that tape over again,” he said. “You can’t turn it off. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to turn it off.”
Glasgow asked for asked for privacy for the family and directed questions to law agencies, adding that the discovery of his brother’s remains has brought back the pain of Glasgow’s disappearance.
“The past seven years, we’ve lived with this tragedy,” he said. “Time has worn off some of the raw edges, but this event has kind of reopened the wounds.”
From earlier:
Channel 4 reported last night that hikers found what appeared to be human remains on Petit Jean Mountain. The remains were to be taken to the Arkansas Crime Lab for identification.
Little else is known at this moment. But the discovery recalls the 2008 disappearance of construction company executive John Glasgow. He was last seen leaving home. His car was found at Petit Jean State Park but no trace of him has ever been found. Searchers scoured the park at the time of his disappearance.
UPDATE: We asked Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler whether investigators at the scene found anything that would lead them to believe the remains were those of John Glasgow. Via email, Sadler said: “The Conway County Sheriff’s Department reported to state police the discovery and deputies were put in touch with Little Rock Police officers who have been the lead investigators in the Glasgow case.”