The Shelbyville City Police Department, in conjunction with the non-profit search-and-recovery organization United Search Corps, made a critical discovery in the case of the missing person Sara Padgett. The Department's Digital Forensic Unit pinpointed the last known location of Padgett's cell phone signal near Normandy Lake yesterday. According to a Facebook post by the Shelbyville PD, Doug Bishop of the United Search Corps located a vehicle submerged in the lake confirmed to belong to Padgett.
The search team discovered a body inside the vehicle, which was then sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office to identify the remains positively. The vehicle has also been moved to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for a thorough forensic examination. The Shelbyville PD's statement thanked United Search Corps for their pivotal role in the finding, urging the public to "learn more about their mission and support their efforts to aid law enforcement and families across the nation in recovering missing loved ones from waterways."
In addition to the United Search Corps, several other entities contributed critically to the search efforts. The Shelbyville City Police Department thanked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Coffee County Rescue Squad, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), and TVA Police for their involvement and assistance. The combined efforts of these agencies enabled a significant advancement in this ongoing investigation.
"The Shelbyville City Police Department will continue to provide updates on this case as information becomes available," the Department stated.
