KY Ky - James Willard Mcneely, 37, Frankfort, 8 Apr 1972

[Gardener1850]

Gender: Male
Race / Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
Height 6' 2" (74 Inches)
Weight 200 lbs
Black Hair
Blue Eyes

Accessories
possibly a KSP issued duty gun belt, a sidearm (revolver), 12 rounds of ammunition, two dump pouches, and handcuffs

Clothing
McNeely could have been wearing any manner of uniform. A standard KSP uniform, a jump suit utility uniform complete with KSP shoulder patches or even civilian clothing.

Circumstances of Disappearance
James McNeely, a Kentucky State Police trooper, drowned in the Kentucky River while on a flood rescue mission in Franklin county, KY in April of 1972. His boat was swept over the dam at Lock 4 in Frankfort. His remains have not been recovered.

Missing Person Case

 

[Coffee56]

They were searching for two missing juveniles when their boat went over a Dam 4.

Trooper McNeely had served with the Kentucky State Police for 16 years. He was survived by his wife and daughter.

Trooper James Willard McNeely

 

[Coffee56]

James' daughter was murdered in Jan 2011.

Katrina has attended this service honoring her father for years. This marks the second ceremony without her sister, Tena McNeely. Tena was murdered inside of an Anderson County home in January of last year.

Daughter honors fallen trooper and seeks justice for murdered sister

 

[Coffee56]

A more personal account from a 3rd person in the boat that was rescued

Did You Know That?: THE TROOPER PROJECT: TPR. JAMES MCNEELY

 

[4SAM]

Silly question: Could the gun still be in the water? Would a body still be intact after all these years if stuck under water? Where does the water empty into?

 

[Gardener1850]

The other man's body was found in Tell City, Indiana. Based on Google maps it looks like the Kentucky River empties into the Ohio River: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Loc...459ed92bf3eaf9!2m2!1d-86.7677663!2d37.9514447

He traveled pretty far, IMO. Maybe James' body went even further down the Ohio River?

 

[Gardener1850]

Silly question: Could the gun still be in the water? Would a body still be intact after all these years if stuck under water? Where does the water empty into?

The body would not be still intact after all this time. His gun should still be in the river if it hasn't been found by someone and not reported. Rushing water often takes clothes off of people. IMO, the gun probably dropped off of him before his body came to rest somewhere. unless he washed up on shore (or became stuck on debris) fairly close to where he went in I think it is unlikely the gun will be found with him. JMO.

 

[4SAM]

Thanks Gardner...just be nice to give the family closure.

 

[Gardener1850]

Thanks Gardner...just be nice to give the family closure.

It sure would. I can't tell anymore if there is DNA for James on NAMUS since they removed all the identifier info. In cases like this I always wonder if the person was possibly found really far away and just never identified.

 

[Coffee56]

Per Reveal

No dental or fingerprints
DNA - submitted test complete

It is going to be so difficult to find any DNA updates now. And digging for that info on the older cases is becoming frustrating.

 

[Gardener1850]

Per Reveal

No dental or fingerprints
DNA - submitted test complete

It is going to be so difficult to find any DNA updates now. And digging for that info on the older cases is becoming frustrating.

Thanks Coffee! I forgot it still shows it there. I wonder if Reveal will update and we will lose that info at some point? Or what happens when a new case is entered? Will Reveal have a "back door" to getting the identifier info for a new cold case or will we be locked out of getting it? I'm tempted to frantically go around and post the identifier info Reveal has on every thread NOW so we will have something to go by later (but it won't help with cases where the DNA is pending). So frustrating they decided to make it hidden.

 

[MadMcGoo]

• Officer Down Memorial Page
• Supporting Heroes
• NamUs MP9660
• The Doe Network 4401DMKY
• The Charley Project
• Find A Grave
• James Willard McNeely

James Willard McNeely

Missing Since: April 8, 1972
Missing From: Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky
Classification: Endangered Missing
Age: 37 years old
Height: 6'2" (74 inches)
Weight: 200 lbs.
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Blue
Clothing: Unknown. Possibly a standard Kentucky State Police uniform, a jump suit utility uniform complete with KSP shoulder patches. Or civilian clothing.
Items: possibly a KSP issued duty gun belt, a sidearm (revolver), 12 rounds of ammunition, two dump pouches, and handcuffs.

Circumstances of Disappearance
James McNeely, a Kentucky State Police trooper, drowned in the Kentucky River while on a flood rescue mission in Franklin county, KY in April of 1972. His boat was swept over the dam at Lock 4 in Frankfort. His remains have not been recovered.

Investigating Agency
Kentucky State Police Post - 12: 502-227-2221

Agency Case Number: 12-12133


21 Unidentified Person Exclusions:

UP8862 09/07/1972 Wicomico MD
UP10941 09/18/1973 Caroline VA
UP9383 03/04/1975 Albemarle VA
UP6700 07/01/1975 Amherst VA
UP5213 07/30/1980 Will IL
UP2099 02/02/1986 Washoe NV
UP6018 08/15/1988 Ulster NY
UP6513 01/01/1990 Brunswick VA
UP6530 05/18/1990 Chesterfield VA
UP6548 10/31/1990 Amelia VA
UP6304 08/01/1993 Clarke VA
UP6149 01/22/1996 Halifax VA
UP8189 08/28/2006 Hamilton TN
UP6637 10/07/2006 Fairfax VA
UP6278 07/05/2007 Botetourt VA
UP2747 05/07/2008 Limestone AL
UP5263 10/09/2008 Will IL
UP14518 04/03/2010 Shenandoah VA
UP10908 08/29/2012 Fairfax VA
UP12854 05/23/2014 Cuyahoga OH
UP14360 08/14/2015 Bland VA

 

[djc351]

A Missing Persons poster that I just made for Mr. McNeely. If you live in Frankfort, KY area please print some and distribute as well as share on social media.