On March 18, 2025, the Howell County Sheriff’s Office spoke with a Forensic Scientist at the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab in Springfield, Mo., in reference to previously submitted DNA samples. These samples are associated with recovered remains located in August of 2024. Ira Briscoe and his roommate, Limon Little, both of West Plains, disappeared on December 17, 2020.
During this conversation, it was advised to this office the reference standards obtained from Rodney and Marilyn Briscoe were analyzed against the submitted sample associated with the recovered remains. This comparison yielded a 99.9999999999% likelihood the recovered remains are the biological child of Rodney and Marilyn Briscoe.
Shortly after this conversation took place, Sheriff Matt Roberts traveled to the Briscoe residence and informed them of this information. Sheriff Roberts also contacted the next of kin to Limon Little to advise her as to the current status of the case.
At this time, the other human remains located at the same location as Ira Briscoe have not been identified. These remains will be submitted to a private laboratory for further DNA testing.
Sheriff Roberts and the Howell County Sheriff’s Office are committed to bringing this case to a close as soon as possible.
