Remains identified as missing Greenwood woman

The coroner’s office on Tuesday said remains discovered last month in a wooded area were those of a Greenwood woman who went missing nearly a year ago.

The Indiana State Police Crime Lab Biology Unit, using DNA analysis, positively identified the remains as Kathryn Cole. Cole, 44, was reported missing by family on Sept. 29, 2020. The cause of death could not be determined, but foul play is not suspected, according to a Johnson County Coroner’s Office news release.

Greenwood police and the coroner’s office responded July 20 to a wooded area in the 1400 block of Fry Road, near State Road 135, to assist with a death investigation involving unidentified human remains.

A contractor clearing the wooded area in preparation for a future residential development found the remains. The University of Indianapolis Human Remains Identification Team and Cadaver K9’s from Indiana Task Force No. 1 assisted in the recovery of the remains, the news release said.

Crews found a backpack near the remains. Inside were a government-issued check made out to Cole and dated June 1, 2020, a cell phone, sim card, sketch book, markers and pencils, according to a Greenwood Police Department report.

Police went to the address listed on the check and spoke with Cole’s parents. They told police they last saw her on Aug. 25, 2020 when she left with a backpack to go sketch, and last heard from her on Aug. 26, 2020 via text message. They said she would often leave and not be heard from for awhile, and they suspected she was using drugs.

The coroner, cadaver dogs, a doctor and students from University of Indianapolis searched the area and recovered additional bones on July 22, and DNA was collected from Cole’s parents, according to the report.

DNA results showed Cole’s parents were 99.9999% likely the biological parents of the person whose remains were found, the report said.

If anyone has additional information, contact Greenwood police at 317-887-5619.