What started as a missing person case in late December for the family of Caleb D. Moore has ended in heartbreak, after human remains pulled from an abandoned well in Henry County in mid March were confirmed to be his.
Family members and volunteer searchers worked side by side with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in the recovery, a complex effort that relied on cadaver dogs, heavy equipment and technical assistance to reach the bottom of the shaft. Rapid DNA testing later identified the remains as Moore, and investigators with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are now assisting the sheriff’s office.
How the search unfolded
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office publicly asked for help locating Moore on Dec. 29, 2025, when it released a missing person alert, according to WBBJ. Local reporting by Henry County Now says Moore was last seen around Dec. 15 near Highway 69 South and the Springville post office and was wearing green coveralls. Friends reported he may have had altered mental status. Through the winter, family members and volunteers kept combing the area while deputies chased down leads.
Cadaver dogs led crews to an abandoned well
On March 13, search teams working at a property listed as 9120 Highway 69 South said cadaver canines alerted to an abandoned well, triggering a large scale recovery operation that pulled in drones and heavy machinery to reach the bottom of the shaft. Multiple trackhoes and bulldozers were brought in to excavate, and the Madison County Fire Department’s special operations unit helped remove the remains.
The remains were taken to the Madison County medical examiner's office for identification and autopsy. Rapid DNA testing on March 17 confirmed they were those of Caleb D. Moore, according to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Officials also put out tip line numbers for anyone with information: (731) 642 1672 and 1 800 824 3463.
Investigation and next steps
Authorities say the case remains under active investigation with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and no arrests or charges have been announced. Investigators are waiting on full autopsy results and continuing forensic work at the scene, and the sheriff's office says it will release more details when it considers them appropriate.
Officials have also urged community members to hold off on speculation while investigators do their work, a familiar request in small communities where word travels faster than official statements.
What we know about Moore
Moore was reported missing by his family at the end of December after he was last seen in mid December near the Springville post office, local outlets reported. Henry County Now described Moore as having brown hair and blue eyes and said he was last known to be wearing green coveralls. Friends were worried about his mental state around the time he disappeared.
Volunteer search efforts, along with a steady stream of tips from neighbors, helped investigators zero in on areas to search in Henry County, eventually leading them to the property along Highway 69 South.
How to help
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (731) 642 1672 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1 800 824 3463. Officials say they also welcome photos or video from the Highway 69 South area in mid December that could be relevant to the case.
The sheriff’s office and TBI say they will share further updates after notification of next of kin and once the autopsy is complete.
