Sanders arrested for murder

***UPDATE*** #3

Around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, a report of a stolen vehicle, (gold, 2007 Ford Focus), was made on East New Cut Road near the location where Michael Joseph Sanders was last seen on Monday. A hunt for the stolen vehicle resulted in Sanders being stopped on Boatman Road and York Road in Austin, (near Interstate #65), by an Austin City Police Officer.

While the hunt for the stolen vehicle was taking place, Washington County Prosecutor Dustin Houchin was in the process of seeking an arrest warrant on Sanders in the Washington County Circuit Court for murder. Indiana State Police detectives had briefed the prosecutor earlier after obtaining enough information during their investigation to seek an arrest warrant.  

Sanders was taken into custody by Austin City police officers and detectives from the Indiana State Police and is incarcerated at the Washington County Jail.

Sanders, 34, of 7707 East New Cut Road in Little York, is charged with the murder of Skyler Naugle. Other charges are pending.

In a clarification reported by the Indiana State Police, it was said, "Skyler Naugle has not been 100% positively identified by the coroner’s standards. However, for investigative and probable cause standards the body located was identified as Skyler Naugle. There is not a missing person’s case being worked at this point.

If for some unknown reason the identification changes, it will be corrected. However, it does not matter if the found body turns out to be someone different, Michael Joseph Sanders would still have been arrested for Murder."

This investigation is continuing.

 

***UPDATE*** #2

This evening, detectives from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg released the name of a person of interest in this case. The person of interest is, Michael Joseph Sanders. He is a white male, 34 years of age, 5’-9” tall, 190 pounds, black hair and blue eyes, (a photo is attached). Michael Joseph Sanders lives at the address where the body was located at 7707 East New Cut Road in Little York.

Michael Joseph Sanders was last seen this past Monday, July 23rd, at around 3:00 pm, at the residence where he lives. He is a person of interest because he lives at the residence and he has not been seen or heard from since the day the body was located. It is unknown where he could be.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Michael Joseph Sanders or sees Michael Joseph Sanders should dial 911.

***UPDATE***

On today’s date, an autopsy was performed on the body located in the woods at 7707 East New Cut Road in Little York. The autopsy was unable to make a positive identification of the body. DNA and dental records will now be used in an attempt to positively identify the found body. The autopsy did reveal the preliminary cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head. Toxicology test results are pending.

It is unknown how long it will take to get a positive identification of the body.

With the findings of the autopsy this case has now been officially classified as a Murder Case.

Previous report:

Washington County-Yesterday morning, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance from detectives from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg in searching for a missing person around the Little York area of Washington County. 

As part of their search for Skyler Naugle, 35, from Washington County, officers visited 7707 East New Cut Road in Little York. As officers began speaking with an occupant of the property they gained enough information to believe Naugle had been to the property before he went missing. At this point they obtained permission to search the property from an owner and they also obtained a search warrant. 

While searching the property officers located a body in a wooded area near the home. The body was not recognizable enough to prove an identity and an autopsy is planned for Wednesday in Washington County to determine an identity and cause of death. 

The missing person, Naugle, is still being looked for. He is a white male, 35 years of age, 5’-7” tall, brown hair and brown eyes, (a photo is attached). There is a good possibility that the found body is that of Naugle however, until an autopsy is performed and positive identification is made nothing can be determined. 

Naugle was reported missing this past Saturday, July 21, by family members and was last seen on Monday, July 16, in the early morning hours in the Little York area of Washington County. 

This investigation is a death investigation. After the autopsy and a confirmation of the cause of death is made this status could obviously change. 

Anyone with information regarding the missing person Skyler Naugle or the body found is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police at 1-800-872-6743 or the Washington County Sheriff’s Department at 812-883-5999. 

The Washington County Coroner’s Office and Prosecutor’s Office are assisting in the investigation.

This investigation is continuing. 

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