Identified! TN - Memphis Area - Woman found on barge - Hailey Silas

[MissLaRena]

If they were sent directly to the lab for DNA testing it was like you said... "her death would be investigated as a murder"

I have never heard of an exact time of death down to the minute. It's always a range as it's near impossible to get it to the minute. I find that confusing if they did that.

Can the autopsy determine the exact time of death?
No, a time range for post mortem interval is usually all that is possible.

FAQs • Can the autopsy determine the exact time of death?

www.co.jefferson.wa.us

I'd think by hitting the barge head/upper body first.

People can change. I'll give myself as an example. I used to be SOOOOO scared of cemeteries when I was young. I had to shield my eyes in a panic when my parents drove by one, which was often since it was on the way to just about everyplace we went (it was near our house on a main road).

Then around my teen days they no longer scared me. I even would go into them to wander around, take pictures in my 20's, I even would bring a lawn chair and a book and sit inside one as they were SO peaceful and a way to get away from the noises of the city. And as an adult, just about any movie with or in a cemetery I want to watch.

So, as I said... people can and do change about things that frightened them when younger.

With all due respect, something led investigators to think she had a history of drug use as stated in Hailey's autopsy. Also, if she had the recent odd behavior of wanting to fly, then I'm thinking she was taking drugs "recently". From Hailey's autopsy:

Per the police investigation, the decedent had been staying in the Midsouth for a few days before her death and had a history of drug use with recent odd behavior of saying she wanted to “fly”

Also, if she had weed in her system the week before, even trace amounts, that is also "past history" of doing drugs. It sounds like he drug history wasn't just the hotshot given to her that night. There's at least a week of history that we know of, and likely more IMO.

With all that said, I do wish they could give you more answers to your questions. Do you know if her case is still open?

Yes the case is still open, and they should have investigated her death as a murder by the detective's words "every body found without an identification is automatically investigated as a murder until all possibilities have been ruled out" and her clothes should have ben sent right then to be tested for DNA, not when and if the investigation report and medical examiner's report match up! There was no history of drug use, she had smoked weed a few times, where they got they I believe was from the people she was "with" trying to cover their tracks. When she was in jail there in West Memphis before the guards said she was not suicidal, she should have went straight from jail to the hospital to be evaluated like she asked instead of being turned loose back to the man she was evidently scared of to begin with, the man who took her there, the one who came straight back to Oklahoma to have content erased off his phone, the same man who is sitting in an Arkansas jail on a rape charge on a million dollar bond he allegedly committed not even one month after he took Hailey to Arkansas. Another thing I know my daughter had a phone, I know the woman who helped Hailey get the phone but again something else the detective refused to have it tracked, even when he was informed of someone on her profile after she was found dead, watching us post comments. Even if she was on drugs, that still doesn't explain how there are so many inconsistent statements, as well as his contradictions of his own words that just DO NOT ADD UP! As for the statement's that were supposedly made by Hailey about wanting to fly from the observation deck the one's who reported her supposedly saying that are the ones they spoke to after the fact, the ones who were directly involved with her death. Look, I understand how some might consider her death a suicide, but I know my baby girl, and she would never in a million years take herself away from her son like that, yes she went to Arkansas with that older man, but she had every intention on coming back to her son. I understand how even taking that chance some could say by doing so she might have considered not making it back, and that her actions might have been questionable in a way, but the fact is that nothing adds up in her case. I believe that the detective probably had his mind made up from the start since it would have looked like a suicide on the surface, but if he had investigated her death as a murder as he said was protocol for each body found without ID like he said it would be I strongly believe he wouldn't have came to the conclusion she was so high she thought she could fly. I'm positive the findings would at the very least have four people in custody! Or would have given them polygraphs to confirm whether they were telling the truth or not. How could letting me confirm whether the drawings he has that my daughter supposedly drew the day before she was found dead, short of a handwriting expert he would have absolutely no idea if it was Hailey's or not!! How could that jeopardize the investigation that he was wrapping up?

 

[MissLaRena]

What I have noticed as well was under External Examination:
The soles of the right and left feet are black with
dirt.

Under Clothing and Personal Effects:
Two brown shoes -No socks mentioned
My Q:So was she running around barefoot in the hotel area prior to putting on her shoes and going towards the bridge and if so, why?
(Paranoia and Hallucinations from the combo of drugs?)

Also, under Clothing and Personal Effects:
one white metal watch
What kind of watch did she have? That could be why they think they know exact time of death.

purple lighter
Was she a cigarette smoker? If not then she had this on her for the drugs one has to assume.

Under Summary and Interpretation:
Autopsy had findings of multiple blunt traumatic injuries to the head and neck, torso, and extremities with the most
severe injuries being to the head and torso.

If you think about someone who jumps thinking they can fly, one might think that the hands, head and torso would hit first.

She did smoke cigarettes so that is why she had the lighter, as for the watch I'm not sure about that had to be something she picked up between here and there I think, I'm still not able to have those personal effects. And her feet being black, her shoes with no socks in the end of October, her feet being black all are consistent with what I have been told, that she was running around a tow yard there in Marion Arkansas looking for me, the lady there wanted Hailey gone so the man took care of it I was told. Why if she jumped did she have defensive wounds? How does she get a 4-inch cut on her palm between the bridge and the barge if she hit feet first? If that cut did come from her trying to brace herself for the impact like the detective said why wasn't there a similar cut on her right hand? And it clearly states on the autopsy report that the time of death is 12:16 which would have fit the timeline of the man she was with frantically texting and calling to people to get a ride, that is when Hailey decided to walk to Memphis with no money away from her hotel room and between 12 and 2:30 Hailey was just hanging out on a bridge with traffic just to see if she could fly? why wouldn't she take her purse, you would think she would want it when she landed if so? The blunt force trauma to the head and torso is from them beating her to death, after they were done they tried to dispose of the body in such a way to make it look like she committed suicide, the flying off the observation deck directly came from the people involved, I don't think there is anyone else that said that except for the ones who killed her, and with the jail guards confirming that Hailey was not suicidal how can I not think what I have been told, the autopsy report, and the statements made by the detective that she was killed? Again, if there are hard facts that point to her committing suicide I will accept that as hard as it would be. But on the flip side of that if she was killed and the people who did it get away with what they did, how could I live as a mother knowing the truth and not doing a damn thing about it? Wouldn't most mother's out there do everything in the world to make sure they got justice for their child? with the information I have along with the recording of the call between the detective and I when he gave me the findings, he had come up with along with the autopsy report, anyone can clearly see she was murdered. But for now, it's just unfortunate that I can't trust what the people who take an oath wouldn't do the job they took to the best of their ability?

 

[MissLaRena]

If they were sent directly to the lab for DNA testing it was like you said... "her death would be investigated as a murder"

I have never heard of an exact time of death down to the minute. It's always a range as it's near impossible to get it to the minute. I find that confusing if they did that.

Can the autopsy determine the exact time of death?
No, a time range for post mortem interval is usually all that is possible.

FAQs • Can the autopsy determine the exact time of death?

www.co.jefferson.wa.us

I'd think by hitting the barge head/upper body first.

People can change. I'll give myself as an example. I used to be SOOOOO scared of cemeteries when I was young. I had to shield my eyes in a panic when my parents drove by one, which was often since it was on the way to just about everyplace we went (it was near our house on a main road).

Then around my teen days they no longer scared me. I even would go into them to wander around, take pictures in my 20's, I even would bring a lawn chair and a book and sit inside one as they were SO peaceful and a way to get away from the noises of the city. And as an adult, just about any movie with or in a cemetery I want to watch.

So, as I said... people can and do change about things that frightened them when younger.

With all due respect, something led investigators to think she had a history of drug use as stated in Hailey's autopsy. Also, if she had the recent odd behavior of wanting to fly, then I'm thinking she was taking drugs "recently". From Hailey's autopsy:

Per the police investigation, the decedent had been staying in the Midsouth for a few days before her death and had a history of drug use with recent odd behavior of saying she wanted to “fly”

Also, if she had weed in her system the week before, even trace amounts, that is also "past history" of doing drugs. It sounds like he drug history wasn't just the hotshot given to her that night. There's at least a week of history that we know of, and likely more IMO.

With all that said, I do wish they could give you more answers to your questions. Do you know if her case is still open?

 

[ShastaDaisy]

She did smoke cigarettes so that is why she had the lighter, as for the watch I'm not sure about that had to be something she picked up between here and there I think, I'm still not able to have those personal effects. And her feet being black, her shoes with no socks in the end of October, her feet being black all are consistent with what I have been told, that she was running around a tow yard there in Marion Arkansas looking for me, the lady there wanted Hailey gone so the man took care of it I was told. Why if she jumped did she have defensive wounds? How does she get a 4-inch cut on her palm between the bridge and the barge if she hit feet first? If that cut did come from her trying to brace herself for the impact like the detective said why wasn't there a similar cut on her right hand? And it clearly states on the autopsy report that the time of death is 12:16 which would have fit the timeline of the man she was with frantically texting and calling to people to get a ride, that is when Hailey decided to walk to Memphis with no money away from her hotel room and between 12 and 2:30 Hailey was just hanging out on a bridge with traffic just to see if she could fly? why wouldn't she take her purse, you would think she would want it when she landed if so? The blunt force trauma to the head and torso is from them beating her to death, after they were done they tried to dispose of the body in such a way to make it look like she committed suicide, the flying off the observation deck directly came from the people involved, I don't think there is anyone else that said that except for the ones who killed her, and with the jail guards confirming that Hailey was not suicidal how can I not think what I have been told, the autopsy report, and the statements made by the detective that she was killed? Again, if there are hard facts that point to her committing suicide I will accept that as hard as it would be. But on the flip side of that if she was killed and the people who did it get away with what they did, how could I live as a mother knowing the truth and not doing a damn thing about it? Wouldn't most mother's out there do everything in the world to make sure they got justice for their child? with the information I have along with the recording of the call between the detective and I when he gave me the findings, he had come up with along with the autopsy report, anyone can clearly see she was murdered. But for now, it's just unfortunate that I can't trust what the people who take an oath wouldn't do the job they took to the best of their ability?

I believe you. I lost an adult daughter this year and I have only empathy and compassion for you. I hope that your persistence will help you get answers. I really do.

 

[Gemmie]

For whatever reason I can't Quote your post. I'm guessing because all it has in it is an attachment and no text. With that said... would you mind editing your post and saying anything? Like... adding the words Autopsy report. I'd like to determining if its because there's no text and only an attachment. I know. I'm weird. I just like to understand how this (and other) sites works.

 

[MissLaRena]

I believe you. I lost an adult daughter this year and I have only empathy and compassion for you. I hope that your persistence will help you get answers. I really do.

I am so sorry to hear that I know the pain that comes from losing a child, it's so excruciating it's almost unexplainable. Thank you for believing what I am saying, I get frustrated when I feel like I'm not getting my point across, it's difficult to explain in a message, even harder in person due to the inability to control the raw emotions that grief causes. How old was your daughter if you don't mind me asking? How are you coming to terms with the live you now are forced to live without her, if I might ask? I mean no disrespect and hope by asking I don't make you relive that pain, I ask because I am trying to figure out ho to live life again now that my baby girl is gone. I am also trying to prepare myself for the hard times that are ahead, I attempted grief support groups but found that they hurt too badly for me right now. If you find yourself needing someone to talk to who is going through some of the same emotions from what we have lost you are always more then welcome to message me at any time, or you can also email me I too could use someone to talk to about what I am going through but I don't talk to anyone who has lost a child due to not wanting to force them to relive the pain they felt after their loss. It's an option that you are and always will have if you find the need to talk, scream, or cry to someone I will be here to loan you my ear, shoulder, as well as my heart if that means you fell less pain. ANYTIME AT ALL! Don't hesitate or think your going to bother me, i haven't slept right since all this happened so i'm always here.

 

[MissLaRena]

For whatever reason I can't Quote your post. I'm guessing because all it has in it is an attachment and no text. With that said... would you mind editing your post and saying anything? Like... adding the words Autopsy report. I'd like to determining if its because there's no text and only an attachment. I know. I'm weird. I just like to understand how this (and other) sites works.

I'm not sure how to edit the message your referring to, all the other messages I can click reply and it pulls up the option to edit but not that particular post. Is there another way I'm not thinking of in order to complete this action? And did it post the screenshot of the time of death?

 

[MissLaRena]

Screenshot of the time of death the medical examiner stated on the autopsy report

 

[MissLaRena]

I'm not sure how to edit the message your referring to, all the other messages I can click reply and it pulls up the option to edit but not that particular post. Is there another way I'm not thinking of in order to complete this action? And did it post the screenshot of the time of death?

I couldn't figure out how to edit that particular post so I reposted it with a comment, will that help?

 

[MissLaRena]

The statement that was made in the autopsy report Per the police investigation, the decedent had been staying in the Midsouth for a few days before her death and had a history of drug use with recent odd behavior of saying she wanted to “fly” mind you was made before they had spoken with me or anyone who would have had that information. That statement kind of proves my point all together if you ask me, she had been staying in the midsouth for a few days, she arrived in West Memphis between the 14-15, she was arrested on the 15th in the early evening on the same day the 15th. She spent three days in jail and was released on the 18th and found dead on the 21 at 7:15am, how could they have even assumed she had a history of drug use? She wasn't charged with being on drugs when she called 911 seven times saying she was scared, the three days she was in jail I'm sure there wasn't random drug tests given, and the two days after she was released, she didn't take a drug test, so how could they even make the assumption she had even used drugs? They made that statement without having any evidence to back that up other than the story that the people who killed her came up with. I am even taking into account the toxicology report confirming meth in her system, like I previously stated she only had trace amounts of weed in her system the week before she left, so the amount of meth she had is again consistent with her being given a "Hotshot", that could be something that happened right before she was killed, they may have done that right before she died. I know Hailey was told by a girl in jail to go to that tow yard that her boyfriend would take care of her until she got out the next day, that is what Hailey did. She went to the tow yard then that is where they went to the BassPro shop where supposedly she said she wanted to jump off the observation deck. I'm coming to the conclusion that whoever told her to go there may be who had her killed, I know there are evil people in this world, I was told Hailey was trying her hardest to get back home to her son. If the girl in jail told Hailey to go to the tow yard until she got out of jail and maybe she told Hailey she would help her get home, Hailey could have showed up there and the lady at the tow yard (the one I was told dressed my daughter after she was dead) had a problem with Hailey? There are only a few people who are supposedly involved, six I believe all together, and now what I was told is making more sense to me as I explain it. Whoever the girl was that Hailey was in jail with sent her to that tow yard, the older man and his girlfriend took Hailey to the BassPro shop, there she supposedly said have you ever thought about flying? To the people from the tow yard that took her there, then they went to the karaoke bar where she called me and we talked, that's why when she told me she had spent the night in jail she didn't mention it was really three. That old man is the old man I heard in the background the whole time she and I talked cussing at her telling her to get off the phone. When they wouldn't let Hailey drink they left, this is where she meets a man, she left with to stay the night at his house where the two played pool and two drinking his mother's house where they played pool and drank all night until what would be Friday morning. This is when he goes and rent's Hailey the room for a week leaving his driver licenses at the front desk. From whatever time he rented the room until the time Hailey met the last one seen with her where they left to go hang out at the river park at around 9 when they left from Hailey's room with a cooler. They hung out there for a little over an hour, where they were caught by a still picture taken at the park at about 11:30pm, that's when the guy was frantically texting and calling for a ride and at this point is when Hailey made the decision to walk into traffic to Memphis with no money and no reason to be there that late at night. This is evidently when she made the decision she could fly, climbed over the rail, stuffed her purse she would have needed in the bridge railing and turned around and took off? I know your saying but wait they was at the park where the still was taken at 11:30pm right? YES! Now what time does the autopsy report say she died? 12:16pm! Right? Yes! Now the time between her time of death and when the barge was under the bridge? This is when the woman from the tow yard I was told dressed my daughter in the clothes she was found in, they threw her body off the bridge to give the impression she committed suicide. Knowing the police would come around since they had clearly been seen at the observation deck,

 

[Gemmie]

Screenshot of the time of death the medical examiner stated on the autopsy report

No worries. You need to edit within an hour or you won't have an option to. It's not important as I was just wanting to understand how something works here and thought you were still around since you had recently made your post.

Anyway, what I was going to say was that I wasn't doubting that you were told the exact, down to the minute, time of Hailey's death. I just have never seen a time so precise, they are usually an estimate since it's a science on how the ME comes up with the timing.
Can you tell us what the name of this report is? Case? Release? Something else? I just know it doesn't say Autopsy Report with 'ase' showing. It might tell us why the time of death on it is down to the minute, when it's more likely a time range.

 

[ShastaDaisy]

Screenshot of the time of death the medical examiner stated on the autopsy report

This says "jumped from an unknown bridge"
Do you know what bridge she was on?

 

[ShastaDaisy]

I am so sorry to hear that I know the pain that comes from losing a child, it's so excruciating it's almost unexplainable. Thank you for believing what I am saying, I get frustrated when I feel like I'm not getting my point across, it's difficult to explain in a message, even harder in person due to the inability to control the raw emotions that grief causes.

Thank you @MissLaRena
I do believe you and I believe a mother knows when something isn't right about a situation

How old was your daughter if you don't mind me asking? How are you coming to terms with the live you now are forced to live without her, if I might ask? I mean no disrespect and hope by asking I don't make you relive that pain, I ask because I am trying to figure out ho to live life again now that my baby girl is gone. I am also trying to prepare myself for the hard times that are ahead, I attempted grief support groups but found that they hurt too badly for me right now.

42. I'm taking it one day at a time, I cry when I need to, when the memories well up or something reminds me of her, I try to feel through it, sometimes it's too much, enough to take my breath away. I don't think I am the same person I was and yet every memory and experience that we had together was and is part of me.
I don't know if that helps, it's so hard, and everyone experiences grief differently.

All you can really do is honor your daughter in every moment, remember her, and continue loving her. Forgive yourself for not being able to save her. I know that for me that's one of the hardest things. No matter what happens you always want what is best for your child; that doesn't change after they're gone.

My heart goes out to you as you navigate this new chapter of your life. For me, having something to look forward to is helpful, like planning an outing or small gathering or taking a trip somewhere or seeing someone you love. Reaching out is important, sometimes the people that come through for you are not the people you think. It's okay to ask for help and support, it really is. People want to support you but don't always know how.

My daughter died of acute fentanyl poisoning and this summer I attended a community memorial in honor of the people in our community that have passed in recent years and that was a really powerful event for me, to see others who have lost loved ones.

If you find yourself needing someone to talk to who is going through some of the same emotions from what we have lost you are always more then welcome to message me at any time, or you can also email me I too could use someone to talk to about what I am going through but I don't talk to anyone who has lost a child due to not wanting to force them to relive the pain they felt after their loss. It's an option that you are and always will have if you find the need to talk, scream, or cry to someone I will be here to loan you my ear, shoulder, as well as my heart if that means you fell less pain. ANYTIME AT ALL! Don't hesitate or think your going to bother me, i haven't slept right since all this happened so i'm always here.

You’re so kindhearted, thank you @MissLaRena
I wish you peace in your heart and deep restful sleep.

 

[MissLaRena]

Thank you @MissLaRena
I do believe you and I believe a mother knows when something isn't right about a situation

42. I'm taking it one day at a time, I cry when I need to, when the memories well up or something reminds me of her, I try to feel through it, sometimes it's too much, enough to take my breath away. I don't think I am the same person I was and yet every memory and experience that we had together was and is part of me.
I don't know if that helps, it's so hard, and everyone experiences grief differently.

All you can really do is honor your daughter in every moment, remember her, and continue loving her. Forgive yourself for not being able to save her. I know that for me that's one of the hardest things. No matter what happens you always want what is best for your child; that doesn't change after they're gone.

My heart goes out to you as you navigate this new chapter of your life. For me, having something to look forward to is helpful, like planning an outing or small gathering or taking a trip somewhere or seeing someone you love. Reaching out is important, sometimes the people that come through for you are not the people you think. It's okay to ask for help and support, it really is. People want to support you but don't always know how.

My daughter died of acute fentanyl poisoning and this summer I attended a community memorial in honor of the people in our community that have passed in recent years and that was a really powerful event for me, to see others who have lost loved ones.

You’re so kindhearted, thank you @MissLaRena
I wish you peace in your heart and deep restful sleep.

ShastaDaisy,

I know the trauma of losing a loved one to fentanyl, about three weeks after my daughter was killed my oldest daughter's baby daddy killed himself with fent. It was devastating to say the least; both of my grandbabies lost a parent within a month of each other.

 

[MissLaRena]

This says "jumped from an unknown bridge"
Do you know what bridge she was on?

I-55

 

[MissLaRena]

No worries. You need to edit within an hour or you won't have an option to. It's not important as I was just wanting to understand how something works here and thought you were still around since you had recently made your post.

Anyway, what I was going to say was that I wasn't doubting that you were told the exact, down to the minute, time of Hailey's death. I just have never seen a time so precise, they are usually an estimate since it's a science on how the ME comes up with the timing.
Can you tell us what the name of this report is? Case? Release? Something else? I just know it doesn't say Autopsy Report with 'ase' showing. It might tell us why the time of death on it is down to the minute, when it's more likely a time range.

View attachment 551241

That's the case report from the medical examiner's report, it's the same as what Tricia uploaded, I just zoomed in enough to see the time of death. I went over the handbook for medical examiners and coroners and they should have used the abbreviation for APPX since they couldn't be positive on her time of death. They also filled the autopsy report out wrong unless I just got a different version of the report, there are definitely mistakes made in her report that was sent to me, if it wasn't filled out properly, they aren't very professional and I would warn anyone who gets a report from them to be cautious and pay close attention to what they receive. When all this comes out I'm going to drop some information that will outrage so many parents about the medical examiner I had spoken to in the beginning, I just do not want to give any information that could further prolong the answers I deserve.

 

[Gemmie]

That's the case report from the medical examiner's report, it's the same as what Tricia uploaded, I just zoomed in enough to see the time of death. I went over the handbook for medical examiners and coroners and they should have used the abbreviation for APPX since they couldn't be positive on her time of death. They also filled the autopsy report out wrong unless I just got a different version of the report, there are definitely mistakes made in her report that was sent to me, if it wasn't filled out properly, they aren't very professional and I would warn anyone who gets a report from them to be cautious and pay close attention to what they receive. When all this comes out I'm going to drop some information that will outrage so many parents about the medical examiner I had spoken to in the beginning, I just do not want to give any information that could further prolong the answers I deserve.

That makes more sense for it to be an approximate time of death. And I'm shocked what they sent has wrong info. Is there someone that you can make a complaint with about that? That should not happen IMO.

 

[dotr]

Bumping with possible reposts..

Oct 25, 2023

Oct 26, 2023
A mystery on the Mississippi River: A woman was found dead on top of a barge and no one knows how she got there. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee says the woman was identified as Hailey Silas, 22, of Oklahoma. Investigators say the barge departed from Memphis, but they don’t know why she was in the city or how she died. Reports say she called 911 in West Memphis, Arkansas, days earlier. Inside Edition Digital’s Mara Montalbano has more.

 

[MissLaRena]

Bumping with possible reposts..

Oct 25, 2023

Oct 26, 2023
A mystery on the Mississippi River: A woman was found dead on top of a barge and no one knows how she got there. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee says the woman was identified as Hailey Silas, 22, of Oklahoma. Investigators say the barge departed from Memphis, but they don’t know why she was in the city or how she died. Reports say she called 911 in West Memphis, Arkansas, days earlier. Inside Edition Digital’s Mara Montalbano has morI

I'm confused what you mean?

 

[dotr]

I'm confused what you mean?

To 'bump' is to bring attention back to a thread by reposting links (the videos) that are not new and may have previously been posted.