Female Human Remains Found Leads to Arrest of Missouri Man

Over two years ago, unidentified female remains were found near US Highway 60, west of Winona, Missouri, in Shannon County. Now, a Missouri man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and stealing in connection with those remains.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said in a press release this week that Robert C. Bender, 59, of Alton, Missouri has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and stealing with the allegation that he took the life of the woman that was found.

It took two years for Missouri investigators to determine that the remains were of Debra J. Ramsey, 66, of Alton, Missouri, the sister of the accused. A search warrant was issued on Wednesday, July 17 of Robert C. Bender's home and that of Debra J. Ramsey. Formal charges have been issued by the Oregon County Prosecuting Attorney including a charge of abandonment of a corpse.

The press release states that Robert C. Bender, 59, of Alton, Missouri is being held in the Oregon County, Missouri jail without bond.

This investigation was carried out by Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop D and F Special Weapons and Tactics Teams, West Plains Police Department, Shannon County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon County Sheriff’s Office, Region G K9 Search and Rescue, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.