A farmer discovered the skeletal remains of a Texas man in an agricultural field in Brownstown on Wednesday, May 26, at approximately 2:30 p.m. The remains were located just north of U.S. Route 40, near 1700 N. Street. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Department requested the help of the Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 8 at 3:30 p.m.
Brownstown First Responders, St. Elmo First Responders, St. Elmo Police, ISP Crime Scene Investigators, Fayette County Deputy Coroners, and Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a grid search of the rural Fayette County field.
This week, Fayette County Coroner Dave Harris reports the remains have been determined to be those of Joel Anthony Mason, 33, of Texas. Coroner Harris says the last contact anyone had with Mason was on August 2, 2020 and that Mason has family in Fayette County. Harris stated that no further information is being released at this time, pending further investigation.
Harris did add that anyone who has information on this matter is asked to contact the Fayette County Coroner’s Office or the ISP and that the investigation continues.
CARISSA SITKI PHOTO
First Responders conduct a grid search of a field just North of Route 40 (near 1700 N. St.), between Brownstown and St. Elmo, after human skeletal remains were discovered there by a farmer on Wednesday, May 26.
