Human remains recovered in February from a wooded area near Rison Street and Jack Younger Lane have been identified as a Henry County man who was reported missing last fall. Relatives and investigators were notified this week after the medical examiner confirmed the identification, bringing months of searching in the Paris area to a painful close. Authorities say the discovery does not appear to indicate any ongoing threat to the public as investigators finish their testing.
Identification Confirmed By Medical Examiner
The Henry County Sheriff's Office said the remains recovered on Valentine's Day were sent to the medical examiner, who confirmed on March 5 that they belonged to William “Billy” H. Linn, 67, who was reported missing in September 2025, as reported by WSMV. Linn was last seen on Jack Younger Lane, and authorities say the recovery site was near the intersection of Rison Street and Jack Younger Lane. Investigators have not released information about the cause of death while the medical examiner's work and related paperwork are finalized.
Search Operations And Recovery Details
According to the Henry County Sheriff's Office, deputies and Paris officers responded after a report of the remains and used tracking and search-and-rescue canines in the follow-up investigation. Earlier land searches in the same area had been limited by flooding. Officials say the recovered remains were sent to the medical examiner's office for identification and testing, and the department has told the public it believes no foul play is involved while those procedures continue.
Family Searches, Community Response And How To Help
Family members organized volunteer searches in December and asked neighbors to meet at 410 Rison Street, warning that the terrain would be rough and urging groups to stay together, as reported by WSMV. Those volunteer efforts supplemented official searches that were sometimes constrained by weather and ground conditions. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff's Office at (731) 642-1672, per the department's official contact page at henrycountytn.org.
