ND Heather Caras, 39,vehicle found abandoned with keys in the ignition, disappearance described as out of character, Linton North Dakota, 24 Jan 25.

[starlightstarbright]

What relation is this person to Heather (who wrote the post)? And can you verify concerns about her mental health?

 

[Joe Friday]

What relation is this person to Heather (who wrote the post)? And can you verify concerns about her mental health?

If I had to guess, I would say it is some jealous guy who was trying to get Heather to sleep with him by paying her bills and letting her use his truck and got offended that Heather was spending time with the other guy he mentioned that took Heather flying with him, and took her out drinking and was interviewed instead of himself.

Perhaps Heather's friend @amiefurr can shed more light on who he is.

 

[khoffy]

This is screenshots of a public Facebook post by the man who found her truck the next day. Things to note: house was destroyed before the boys aunt arrived. Boys aunt also verified with school and kids doctors that NO emergency contact was listed. Her story has been picked up by the salty 3 crew(rumble is where they go live and this is the rumble handle) and here’s a link to their fb page where they share the most recent news airing done last week. Thoughts on this for those with no emotional attachment Salty3 Pancak3s

Maybe I'm reading these wrong, but somewhere in the middle I think he stated that this Tabitha and the boy's father ransacked Heather's home. But then towards the end, he said she herself destroyed her home. So, is he saying that she destroyed her home and then they tore it up more? Or is this him contradicting himself? Those were the two things that stuck in my mind. Other than his absolutely stating she is dead, which I have to say is a red flag to me.

 

[Slamalam]

If I had to guess, I would say it is some jealous guy who was trying to get Heather to sleep with him by paying her bills and letting her use his truck and got offended that Heather was spending time with the other guy he mentioned that took Heather flying with him, and took her out drinking and was interviewed instead of himself.

Perhaps Heather's friend @amiefurr can shed more light on who he is.

My exact same initial impression.

 

[amiefurr]

Maybe I'm reading these wrong, but somewhere in the middle I think he stated that this Tabitha and the boy's father ransacked Heather's home. But then towards the end, he said she herself destroyed her home. So, is he saying that she destroyed her home and then they tore it up more? Or is this him contradicting himself? Those were the two things that stuck in my mind. Other than his absolutely stating she is dead, which I have to say is a red flag to me.

The house was already messed up and looked ransacked prior to tabby and the boys arrival. The things they took were the boys things that they could fit in the vehicle and there wasn’t much room with 5 riding back in total. I think he’s just super weird and like this other person stated a bit jealous it seemed. Most of his message brought up all the things he did for her, it seemed mostly like an attention seeking type of behavior…and maybe a bit narcissistic. He is the one who found her truck.

 

[amiefurr]

We do have screenshots of several text messages she sent in the week prior to her disappearance. Hoping to find a psychiatrist or psychologist or both to review them for insight into her state of mind.

 

[amiefurr]

Any suggestions on good private investigators we can contact?

 

[truthfinder2019]

Sad news in fb from a family member, waiting for an official PD or MSN update to confirm

 

[deb_lalala]

I am speaking as her friend only right now, and speaking purely out of emotion. I pray this changes the gears of her case, and she can truly now get justice.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The Emmons County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 39-year-old Heather Caras was discovered late Sunday morning by a farmer in a corn field. The body was partially decomposed.

https://kfgo.com/2025/05/27/body-of-missing-woman-discovered-in-south-central-north-dakota/

The body has been transported to the ND Medical Examiner’s Office in Grand Forks, pending autopsy later this week. Deputies also say it’s likely Caras initially left willingly with someone she knew.

https://www.ksjbam.com/2025/05/27/body-found-in-emmons-county-cornfield-2-5-miles-from-where-missing-linton-womans-vehicle-was-abandoned/

 

[deb_lalala]

The Emmons County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 39-year-old Heather Caras was discovered late Sunday morning by a farmer in a corn field. The body was partially decomposed.

https://kfgo.com/2025/05/27/body-of-missing-woman-discovered-in-south-central-north-dakota/

The body has been transported to the ND Medical Examiner’s Office in Grand Forks, pending autopsy later this week. Deputies also say it’s likely Caras initially left willingly with someone she knew.

https://www.ksjbam.com/2025/05/27/body-found-in-emmons-county-cornfield-2-5-miles-from-where-missing-linton-womans-vehicle-was-abandoned/

So glad they're doing an autopsy outside of Linton and that the state is doing it.

Partially decomposed.
Ok sleuths.
Science with me for a minute. I read a few articles about slower rate of decomp in ND due to weather conditions in the extreme winter months vs spring/summer months.

Negative temps slow that down in any climate.

Other thought process is:approx 2.5 mi from where the truck was found. She didnt walk with no shoes on in the that cold of a climate.
The tracking dogs would have picked her scent up.

Thoughts?

 

[Kittypoo]

So glad they're doing an autopsy outside of Linton and that the state is doing it.

Partially decomposed.
Ok sleuths.
Science with me for a minute. I read a few articles about slower rate of decomp in ND due to weather conditions in the extreme winter months vs spring/summer months.

Negative temps slow that down in any climate.

Other thought process is:approx 2.5 mi from where the truck was found. She didnt walk with no shoes on in the that cold of a climate.
The tracking dogs would have picked her scent up.

Thoughts?

Ooh would love to hear how it’s known Heather left willingly with a friend.
What were the weather conditions in January/February in North Dakota? I am not familiar.
Even if it was extremely cold I am surprised at only partial decomposition in the space of 4 months.
JMO

 

[Joe Friday]

So glad they're doing an autopsy outside of Linton and that the state is doing it.

Partially decomposed.
Ok sleuths.
Science with me for a minute. I read a few articles about slower rate of decomp in ND due to weather conditions in the extreme winter months vs spring/summer months.

Negative temps slow that down in any climate.

Other thought process is:approx 2.5 mi from where the truck was found. She didnt walk with no shoes on in the that cold of a climate.
The tracking dogs would have picked her scent up.

Thoughts?

Big question I have, was the truck operable when found. If the truck had broke down or became stuck and she decided to walk for help, I have seen other cases where people have left their shoes behind and walked away in the snow to where their bodies were found a short distance from where the vehicle had been and the cause of death was Hypothermia.

People suffering from Hypothermia do strange things, like take their cloths off in bitterly cold weather.

Police: Body of missing Ill. mom found in field

Searchers in Illinois believe they've found the body of a mother of four who's been missing since a car crash last month that killed her husband.

www.nbcnews.com

Thread 'IL - Tanya Shannon reported missing after car accident that left husband dead'

Dec 12, 2010

Tanya Shannon, a 40-year-old mother of four, has been missing since Sunday. Authorities concluded a ground search for her yesterday after searching since Sunday. Dec. 5, 2010
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Tanya Shannon should call the sheriff’s office at (815) 433-2161.

The map includes:
Streator – Location of Party. Tanya and Dale left...

• imamaze
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Located Timeline and Media Links

JMO

 

[deb_lalala]

Big question I have, was the truck operable when found. If the truck had broke down or became stuck and she decided to walk for help, I have seen other cases where people have left their shoes behind and walked away in the snow to where their bodies were found a short distance from where the vehicle had been and the cause of death was Hypothermia.

People suffering from Hypothermia do strange things, like take their cloths off in bitterly cold weather.

Police: Body of missing Ill. mom found in field

Searchers in Illinois believe they've found the body of a mother of four who's been missing since a car crash last month that killed her husband.

www.nbcnews.com

Thread 'IL - Tanya Shannon reported missing after car accident that left husband dead'

Dec 12, 2010

Tanya Shannon, a 40-year-old mother of four, has been missing since Sunday. Authorities concluded a ground search for her yesterday after searching since Sunday. Dec. 5, 2010
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Tanya Shannon should call the sheriff’s office at (815) 433-2161.

The map includes:
Streator – Location of Party. Tanya and Dale left...

• imamaze
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Located Timeline and Media Links

JMO

Thank you for bringing this to the table. I'm almost positive her truck was still drivable, but it was towed out of Beaver Bay to a near by tow lot.

So your question does bring new insight I hadn't thought of. @amiefurr may have better answers than I do on whether it was still operational. I do know it was crushed because the bill was high after a few days and not paid, unfortunately, potentially losing any evidence there may have been in it- in my opinion, even though there was offers to pay for it.

 

[deb_lalala]

Ooh would love to hear how it’s known Heather left willingly with a friend.
What were the weather conditions in January/February in North Dakota? I am not familiar.
Even if it was extremely cold I am surprised at only partial decomposition in the space of 4 months.
JMO

Negative degree temps with the wind chill during Jan and Feb. And at the time of her disappearance it had just freshly snowed a few inches.
The leaving with a friend-IMO- is purely speculation. There was never any evidence.. they also stated she was alive and abandoned her sons at one point but had no proof.

The partial decomp thing is what has me going hmmmm.... especially at 4 months and 17 weeks. If stating she was found 2.5miles away the whole time. Too many animals and insects, even in the winter. Body would succumb to the elements, especially with the much warmer temps recently? Decomp starts immediately after death unless interference has occurred. Again purely speculation, and jmo.

 

[Kittypoo]

Negative degree temps with the wind chill during Jan and Feb. And at the time of her disappearance it had just freshly snowed a few inches.
The leaving with a friend-IMO- is purely speculation. There was never any evidence.. they also stated she was alive and abandoned her sons at one point but had no proof.

The partial decomp thing is what has me going hmmmm.... especially at 4 months and 17 weeks. If stating she was found 2.5miles away the whole time. Too many animals and insects, even in the winter. Body would succumb to the elements, especially with the much warmer temps recently? Decomp starts immediately after death unless interference has occurred. Again purely speculation, and jmo.

Oh thanks for confirming the weather and climate at the time.
So now I’m wondering if she has been held somewhere hidden either alive or otherwise

 

[GraceG]

So glad they're doing an autopsy outside of Linton and that the state is doing it.

Partially decomposed.
Ok sleuths.
Science with me for a minute. I read a few articles about slower rate of decomp in ND due to weather conditions in the extreme winter months vs spring/summer months.

Negative temps slow that down in any climate.

Other thought process is:approx 2.5 mi from where the truck was found. She didnt walk with no shoes on in the that cold of a climate.
The tracking dogs would have picked her scent up.

Thoughts?

Decay rate is influenced by many factors, including the cause of death, environment, season, vertebrate and invertebrate scavengers (both vertegrate and invetebrate) humidity, oxygen content, precipitation, and temperature . But of all these factors, environmental temperature plays a crucial role for insect activity, microbial composition, and rate of the decomposition process. For example during low temperatures, insects are no longer present on the body, while extreme low temperatures (along with snow depth) can limit the activity and access of four-legged scavengers. Microorganisms however, are consistently present in wide ranges of temperatures during decomposition (for example certain bacteria species, like the ones belonging to Psychrobacter genus are better adapted to cold environments, being identified during decomposition).

So yes, very cold temps can slow decomp considerably but decomp doesn't grind to a halt, even in cold environments as microbial actibity is still very much active. You won't see full on skeletization but you will see less decomp than if death occurred during warmer months. Though this can skew time of death, the advance in forensic science is such that the key microbial species can be identified to serve as "biomarkers of death" allowing forensic specialists to develop time of death models that overcome the limitiations of just visually examining the remains to determine time of death. UND did a pretty good study on it - several of my colleagues went through that school. The effects of extreme cold on body decomposition - UND Today

As to where her body was found in relation to the vehicle - you'd be surprised what the human body can do in fight or flight mode. One crash that will haunt me always was a young man who was severely burned in a plane crash in the winter, and we found him an incredibly long way from the main debris field, where he had run, then walked, then crawled, before he passed. One of the few times I "lost it" in the field and broke down in tears at a scene.