Human remains discovered Saturday have been positively identified as Donald Westfall Jr., a local resident missing since late June of 2018. The Spencer County Sheriff’s Department hosted a press conference Sunday afternoon. At this time, Westfall’s death is still an active investigation. However, several family members and friends were present to thank law enforcement and the community as a whole for their help so far.
Robbie Lambert of the Indiana State Police said it had been a very busy 24 hours for area law enforcement. Spencer County Dispatch received a 911 call Saturday from two hunters regarding what appeared to be human bones discovered in the area of US 231 and County Road 1000N. The two were looking for deer shed antlers and notified law enforcement as soon as possible.
“Since that time ISP detectives, crime scene investigators, along with Spencer County Deputies have been at the scene tirelessly looking for evidence or items of evidentiary value,” said Lambert.
A forensic anthropologist arrived on scene to take bone and dental samples. These forensic findings were sufficient to positively identify the remains as belonging to Donald Westfall Jr of Spencer County.
Family members, friends, neighbors and other volunteers have been searching for Westfall since his disappearance. His van was located on the side of County Road 150E in Chrisney on June 27, 2018, not far from where his remains were ultimately found.
“For many of you this has been a long time coming,” said Lambert. “It’s been 1,723 days to be exact. I’m sorry you had to wait that long, but I do want to tell you that we in law enforcement did not forget about Mr. Westfall.”
He noted that law enforcement has reviewed hundreds of tips and dedicated thousands of hours to this investigation. Lambert also emphasized the importance of community support throughout this effort, including those who volunteered time to search the heavily wooded areas around where the deceased went missing as well as the hunters who made the discovery.
“I can’t express how important it is for law enforcement to have the support of our communities,” said Lambert. “We live here together, our kids go to school together, we go to church together. It makes perfect perfect sense for us to work together to make Spencer County a better place for our kids to live in.”
The site investigation wrapped up late Sunday. Westfall’s remains have been moved to Indianapolis for further review.
Detective Brock Werne of the ISP reported it is too early to determine a cause of death with any certainty, especially given that five years have elapsed. However, the investigation is very much alive, with new tips continuing to emerge, several search warrants executed in Warrick County and more with the collaboration of local law enforcement.
“That’s five years of time we have to get back, try to put everything back together, try to figure out what happened,” said Werne. “That’s going to take time.”
Cassi Meyer, Westfall’s cousin and spokesman for the family, offered thanks to law enforcement and for the many friends and neighbors who have offered support over the last five years. She said the news was bittersweet, allowing the family at least some closure and the chance to honor Westfall’s life and eventually determine what happened.
Meyer said of her cousin that he was always quick with a joke when someone needed it.
“He’d do anything to make someone laugh,” she said. “He was definitely one of a kind.”
Meyer also extended thanks to all those who have been following the search over the last five years. She noted the Missing Person Facebook Page for Westfall had more than 6,000 followers, and over the weekend words of support have been pouring in.
“I want to say that this has been a long time coming for us,” said Meyer. “We knew that we would one day find Donnie and be able to properly lay him to rest. Today is that day. We want to thank all the law enforcement involved in finding him, especially Detective Troy Fischer. We want to thank the hunters that found him and we especially want to thank all the people who followed his [Facebook] Page to help keep his memory alive. I wish my aunt, Donnie’s mom, was here to see this day, but I know she’s in Heaven with him and they are both at peace. And to Donnie, we love you and are heartbroken that your life was cut short, but please know that you can rest now, and we will take it from here.”
Story and photos by Don Steen
