From The Tribune staff reports
SHELBY COUNTY — The remains of a missing Columbiana man who has been missing since 2018 were located in Shelby County on Nov. 3, 2022.
Investigators from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office conducted a lengthy and detailed investigation for Harris that included numerous searches, interviews, and news stories; however, investigators were unable to locate Harris.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office stated that the human remains were discovered by a work crew in the area of County Road 222 and County Road 23 in Calera. With the assistance of the Calera Police Department and the Shelby County Coroner’s Office, the remains were recovered and submitted for testing to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
“On Nov. 8, 2022, the remains were identified as those of Derek Dewayne Harris,” Shelby County Sheriff’s Office stated.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the case and will examine the new information in our efforts to determine his cause of death.
“Although this is not the outcome that we wanted for the family of Mr. Harris, we will continue to search for answers in this case that may help give his family closure,” Sheriff John Samaniego said.
Authorities ask that anyone with additional information, in this case, contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 205-670-6000 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777 or on their website at www.crimestoppersmetroal.com.