Witness details the discovery of human remains in Perche Creek near Missouri River access

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man says he was one of the few fishermen that made the discovery of human remains in the Perche Creek Sunday.

Travis Bartlett said he was fishing Sunday afternoon in Perche Creek near the Missouri River access point when he noticed debris floating in the water. He said another pair of fisherman pulled up to the debris in their boat to see what it might be and then rode off, they later returned with two sheriff's deputies.

"They started to bring it by where I was fishing off shore, so you could see it was a trash can that had City of Columbia on the side of it," Bartlett said "I noticed they were struggling with trying to open this can up and that was kind of one of my first indicators that something was going on, aside from the smell of death when they rolled by."

Bartlett said he docked and brought his own tools over to assist in opening the trash can.

"I ended up using the hammer, you know, popping a couple screws loose and it was then when the sheriff identified what appeared to be a human leg," Bartlett said.

Bartlett added that he was unable to make out if any other body parts were in the trash can, but he ddi say the human leg appeared to be wrapped in a blanket.

Bartlett said he growing up in Mid-Missouri the situation hits close to home.

"Unfortunately, someone's loved one is in there," Bartlett said.

ABC 17 News reached out to the Boone County Sheriff's Office for more information but have not heard back yet. Sgt. Kyle Green with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said Troop F has not been asked to assist in any investigation.