ID of skeleton closes bridge fall

Ashdown woman avoided tractor-trailer in February

TEXARKANA -- A female skeleton found on a sandbar in the Red River has been positively identified as Janice Northcross, 42, of Ashdown, according to a statement released Thursday from Caddo Parish, La., Sheriff Steve Prator and Coroner Todd Thoma.

A forensic dentist in Baton Rouge used dental records to make the identification.

Northcross had been missing since Feb. 8, when she fell into the Red River from an Interstate 30 bridge near Fulton while trying to avoid a tractor-trailer skidding toward her on the icy bridge.

A single bone was discovered Sept. 5 on a sandbar in Caddo Parish, and more were found in the following days.

On Sept. 11, the bones were taken to Louisiana State University Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services Laboratory in Baton Rouge for analysis. The Caddo Parish coroner's office and the LSU lab collected and transported the skeleton.

Dental records provided by the Arkansas State Police confirmed the identification.

On Thursday, the Caddo Parish sheriff's office was notified it was Northcross, and state police Special Agent John Rhone informed her family in Ashdown.

Law enforcement officials speculated the body was found about 80 miles downstream from the I-30 bridge.

State police and Arkansas Highway Police assisted in the investigation, state police spokesman Bill Sadler said. Miller County Sheriff Ron Stovall was also notified.

"We received confirmation from Louisiana the body was Janice Northcross," Stovall said. "We're thankful she has been recovered, and I hope the family can have closure."

Northcross was standing on the bridge Feb. 8 with co-worker Ricky Norwood after a multivehicle accident. Both went over the side when the tractor-trailer began skidding toward them. The tractor-trailer's driver, David Parkman Jr., 39, of Joplin, Mo., was not injured.

A pair of shoes belonging to Northcross was recovered from the river.

Norwood was rescued from the water.

The tractor-trailer also struck a vehicle driven by Katherine Burris that was stopped behind Norwood's truck. Burris was able to fall to the pavement and remained on the bridge but was injured by the truck.

Burris, Northcross and Norwood worked at the Firestone plant in Prescott and were en route to work at the time. Ice and snow were contributing factors in the accident.

Northcross' first cousin Denise King of Ogden said the family was relieved that it can finally bring Northcross back home, but the news was also devastating.

"It's just like the day just happened all over again. Reality has finally set in," King said. "I think her sister Katherine [Burris] is taking it the hardest. She was there when it happened. We're just going to start healing and moving forward."

Another human skull was found Sept. 8 in the Red River about 6 miles south of Fulton on a gravel bar, Hempstead County Sheriff James Singleton said.

A farmer who has cattle grazing along the Red River called Singleton about the skull and a piece of clothing. The farmer said dove hunters discovered them near his farm. Hempstead County investigators and state police criminal investigators recovered the skull and clothing found about 200 feet from the skull, Singleton said.

A 1-mile search was conducted on foot and ATVs along the sandbar, but nothing else was found, he said.

Singleton said the skull and DNA have been transferred to the Anthropology Department at the University of North Texas in Denton to assist the state Crime Laboratory with identification.

No timetable was given for results.

Information for this article was contributed by Jeannie Roberts of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

State Desk on 09/20/2014

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