Authorities searching for Laura Lee Crane discovered a body Tuesday near Interstate 35 in Oklahoma, about a hundred miles south of where two suspects were arrested Sunday in connection with the retired professor’s disappearance.
Oklahoma medical examiners will attempt today to identify the body, which was discovered in a field near the 51 mile mark on a northbound service road of I-35 near Ardmore, Okla., Murray County Sheriff Marvin McCracken said. He said that he received the call about the body at about 2 p.m. Tuesday, but wasn’t sure when the body was found.
Lt. Abdul Pridgen, a Fort Worth police spokesman, would not comment on the gender or approximate age of the body, or how long it had been there.
“I’m not sure where the information came from, it is possible it came from the suspects,” Pridgen said.
Crane, 77, was reported missing after visiting a friend at about 11:15 a.m. Friday before going to the Tom Thumb grocery store at 3050 S. Hulen St., police said. Crane worked at TCU for 28 years, first as an education professor and later as director of the Starpoint School.
A man and woman were arrested early Sunday morning after being pulled over in Crane’s Nissan Sentra for a suspected illegal right turn, police said.
Pridgen said Fort Worth police are working with agencies in Murray County to try to quickly identify the body. The name of the body will be announced once a positive identification has been made, he said.
Pridgen said police don’t want to speculate on the body’s identity out of respect to Crane’s family.
Edward Busby, 31, of Fort Worth, is being held in the Oklahoma County jail on suspicion of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended license, and making an improper right turn, said Capt. Kelly Marshall of the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department.
Kathleen Latimer, 39, of Fort Worth, is being held on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance after a former felony conviction, possession of drug paraphernalia and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, Marshall said.
Crane’s husband, Meade Crane, said she was in good health and had no disabilities that would account for her disappearance. Meade Crane had said he suspected his wife was robbed.
Two ATM withdrawals were made from their account, he said, and her gas card was used and a $20 long-distance phone call was made. He said she didn’t ordinarily use the card.
Crane’s daughter Allen Walker said she and the rest of her family are waiting to hear more information from the police. She said she is very impressed with the police investigation thus far.
Walker said she is also impressed with the community’s reaction to Crane’s disappearance.
“There’s been a phenomenal outpour of support,” Walker said Tuesday.
Said family friend and Starpoint School employee Robin Davis: “They are a strong, hopeful family that is doing exactly as well as could be expected.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
