Investigators: Location Where Missing Tulsa Woman Found Will Be Key

<p>Tulsa Police said a grandson's Internet search led to the eventual identification of skeletal remains as a homicide victim missing since 1981. Francine Frost died of a gunshot sound.</p>

Tuesday, August 16th 2016, 2:57 pm

By: News On 6


Tulsa Police held a news conference to give more information about the cold case investigation into the death of Francine Frost - and ask anyone who may know anything about her death to come forward. Frost was a Tulsa wife and mother of two when she disappeared February 16, 1981, at age 44. 

Authorities found her car the next day, parked outside a Tulsa grocery store near her home - the keys still in the driver's side lock and her groceries were still inside.

Detective Margaret Loveall said, "Lends itself to abduction, however, things can be staged. So the initial investigation didn't bring out any clear and obvious suspects."

Her body was found two years later in Muskogee County, but the remains were only identified recently.

At the news conference, Loveall revealed that Frost died of a gunshot wound.

"There is obvious trauma to the body that indicates this is indeed a homicide. That Mrs. Francine Frost is the victim in a murder," Loveall said.

In 2014, Frost's grandson learned through an Internet search about unidentified remains found in Muskogee County two years after Frost disappeared. An article of clothing described on the missing persons' website led family members to get a court order to exhume those remains.

8/15/2016 Related Story: Answers Still Needed After DNA Identifies Tulsa Woman Missing Since 1981

The remains were positively identified as Frost at the University of North Texas, 35 years after her death, police said. Numerous challenges led to the delays in identifying her, Loveall said, but technological advancements and improved communications finally led to the ID.

Tulsa police said they believe the location where Frost's remains were originally found in 1983 will give them leads on a suspect.

"It's not a location that anyone would just traveling to from point A to point B, so it's my personal opinion that this location is going to give us a lot of information about our suspect or suspects." said Loveall.

Police said the remains were found near Interstate 40, about five miles east of Martin.

Learn More About NAMUS, National Missing And Unidentified Persons System

"This piece of the puzzle is very important, and I really think it's going to help us forward the case," Loveall said. "Take the case in a bigger turn because we know now where she was located, the big question is how did she get there."

At this point, no one is eliminated and no one is specifically targeted as a suspect, she said. If you know anything that could help with the investigation, call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.

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