Found Deceased TX - Caleb Harris, 21, Texas A&M University student, Corpus Christi, 4 Mar 2024 #4

[Bigditch]

I don't know if the crop field was private property or leased public land, but either way I doubt LE would have needed a search warrant to conduct grid walk searches.

The manhole in question, situated at the edge of the field farthest from Ennis Joslin Road and closest to the Perry Place lift station, was broken. It wasn't simply a matter of the cover being off.

It's helpful, maybe, to imagine a short-necked soda bottle. Picture the cap, neck and shoulder. Per the description offered in the article I've linked below, the manhole was broken back to the shoulder, dislodging its neck, the metal collar in which the cover sits, and the cover itself. In short, at the time LE examined it in April, the manhole was open because it was heavily damaged. There would have been no way to put the cover back on, only rig up something temporary in its place until proper repairs could be made.

The fact that the manhole was broken so extensively - and may have been on March 4 - is the only reason I can think of for it to have been missed by searchers, mainly because of overgrown weeds, etc., but I still find that just so hard to believe, that it was missed in the first place.

Assistant Chief Todd Green offers a lot more information relevant to the issue of the manhole in this fairly detailed July interview with KIIITV in Corpus Christi.

Manhole, etc.

It would be interesting to know, a) who was the tipster, and b) what exactly was the tip. Re: Manhole, etc

 

[Muddy K]

It would be interesting to know, a) who was the tipster, and b) what exactly was the tip. Re: Manhole, etc

We do know, actually. IIRC, a woman walking her dog along the edge of the crop field discovered the broken manhole. That was on April 17th. Corpus Christi LE responded the next day.

Clipped from the article I linked above, the assistant chief's words, and bolding by me:

“Our investigators went out there the following day, on April 18, and they did find that there was a open manhole cover,” he said. “It wasn't just the cover, it actually -- the entire top of the manhole had been knocked off. They looked into the manhole, which is about 18 feet deep.”

The city’s wastewater department was called out to help lower the water level in the manhole for a more thorough look, but nothing was found.

“They also went to the lift station itself and looked in that wet well to see if they could see anything and they didn’t observe anything at that time,” he said.

I just keep ruminating on these facts, chewing on them like cud. Something is missing, IMO. Some part of the story is not yet known, at least not by me.

 

[Muddy K]

For anyone wondering about the "dream team" or cohort of retired LE that agreed to take on Caleb's case for the Harris family, the group's name is Project Absentis.

I've been checking their website regularly since July and was glad to see Caleb's name finally appear on the "Current Cases" list, linked here: Project Absentis Case List. The website needs some work, though. The main-page link for Caleb leads to a different case. But if you choose "Cases" at the top of the landing page and select Caleb's name from the drop-down menu there, you'll see essentially a snaphot of a billboard. It's basically a page holder compared to the information/background they provide for their other cases. I'll keep watching.

 

[Bigditch]

For anyone wondering about the "dream team" or cohort of retired LE that agreed to take on Caleb's case for the Harris family, the group's name is Project Absentis.

I've been checking their website regularly since July and was glad to see Caleb's name finally appear on the "Current Cases" list, linked here: Project Absentis Case List. The website needs some work, though. The main-page link for Caleb leads to a different case. But if you choose "Cases" at the top of the landing page and select Caleb's name from the drop-down menu there, you'll see essentially a snaphot of a billboard. It's basically a page holder compared to the information/background they provide for their other cases. I'll keep watching.

Thank you MK for the intel.

 

[tarabull]

Owner of San Antonio nonprofit that led search for Caleb Harris dead at 47

Nina Glass, the owner of Search and Rescue SATX, a San Antonio group that searched last year for missing student Caleb Harris, has died. She was 47.

www.caller.com

 

[JenniferTx]

So did LE ever name any suspects? I still believe it was an accident so curious if there were any updates

 

[SMK777]

So did LE ever name any suspects? I still believe it was an accident so curious if there were any updates

So far as I'm aware, they never did. It seems it was accidental, although it's not clear just how far they've investigated the criminal aspect.

 

[Shakespeare Fan]

rib bone identified

Rib bone found in December in/near same location as remains positively identified as Caleb's this week. I wonder how near the other remains? Accident or foul play?

 

[starlightstarbright]

I hope that eventually there is some accountability and a proper report done to explain how Caleb ended up where he did. If it was an accidental death, then it’s indicative of a serious public safety failure. Someone needs to explain what went wrong and how it will be prevented from happening again.

 

[Bahshudc]

I hope that eventually there is some accountability and a proper report done to explain how Caleb ended up where he did. If it was an accidental death, then it’s indicative of a serious public safety failure. Someone needs to explain what went wrong and how it will be prevented from happening again.

I agree. I was shocked at how suddenly this case ground to a halt once his body was found. I thought there'd be a lot more information released, as I know I have a lot of questions. Moo.

 

[mmeynstyn]

rib bone identified

Rib bone found in December in/near same location as remains positively identified as Caleb's this week. I wonder how near the other remains? Accident or foul play?

What the? I am so disappointed and confused as to how this could happen. Did they not properly clean up all the bones?

"...a City of Corpus Christi Wastesater employee at the Greenwood Water Recycling Plant reported the bone to police after it was found by a subcontractor in a drying bed.

That plant is where the contents of the Perry Place lift station wet well were taken in June 2024, following the discovery of Caleb Harris's remains, she said."

 

[Bigditch]

rib bone identified

Rib bone found in December in/near same location as remains positively identified as Caleb's this week. I wonder how near the other remains? Accident or foul play?

Incompetent X 10

 

[Shakespeare Fan]

What the? I am so disappointed and confused as to how this could happen. Did they not properly clean up all the bones?

"...a City of Corpus Christi Wastesater employee at the Greenwood Water Recycling Plant reported the bone to police after it was found by a subcontractor in a drying bed.

That plant is where the contents of the Perry Place lift station wet well were taken in June 2024, following the discovery of Caleb Harris's remains, she said."

I just saw that they updated the article to say it was found in a drying bed. So, the rib bone has been in that same drying bed since June of 2024, and no one noticed until December? I feel like that is a sizeable bone to overlook, unless it was a fragment.

 

[Rosiebones]

What exactly is a drying bed? Is this above ground? Are they searching it thoroughly for more of his remains?

 

[Rosiebones]

This article answers many questions about drying beds and also makes it clear how very
difficult finding more of his remains would be, if not impossible. MOO MOO MOO

Drying Beds in Wastewater Treatment: An Overview of Sludge Management Techniques - Water & Wastewater

Drying beds in wastewater treatment are an essential component for the efficient management and recycling of the byproducts of treated water. They operate on

www.waterandwastewater.com

 

[TwinkieDefense]

April 4, 2025 (March 28 article updated)

Caleb Harris' rib bone found in December definitively identified as being his

The University of North Texas' Center for Human Identification was able to positively identify a rib bone sent to the center in December 2024.

www.11alive.com

[…]

A rib bone sent to the University of North Texas' Center for Human Identification in December was definitively identified as Caleb Harris'.

[…]

 

[SMK777]

April 4, 2025 (March 28 article updated)

Caleb Harris' rib bone found in December definitively identified as being his

The University of North Texas' Center for Human Identification was able to positively identify a rib bone sent to the center in December 2024.

www.11alive.com

[…]

A rib bone sent to the University of North Texas' Center for Human Identification in December was definitively identified as Caleb Harris'.

[…]

I wonder if this finding will have any affect on the investigation narrative?

 

[Bigditch]

I wonder if this finding will have any affect on the investigation narrative?

I sure hope it does.

 

[Bigditch]

Did they ever recover Caleb's cell phone?

 

[geojeffrey]

Did they ever recover Caleb's cell phone?

It has never been reported that the phone was found.