(Columbiana, AL) On December 31, 2018, Derek Dewayne Harris was reported missing from the Columbiana area of Shelby County. The 2015 GMC Terrain he was last seen driving was located unattended on County Road 16 between County Road 22 and Spring Creek Road in Calera.
Investigators from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office conducted a lengthy and detailed investigation for Mr. Harris that included numerous searches, interviews, and news stories; however, investigators were unable to locate Mr. Harris.
On November 3, 2022, human remains were discovered by a work crew in the area of County Road 222 and County Road 23 in Calera. With the assistance of the Calera Police Department and the Shelby County Coroner’s Office, the remains were recovered and submitted for testing to Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
On November 8, 2022, the remains were identified as those of Derek Dewayne Harris. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the case and will examine the new information in our efforts to determine his cause of death.
Sheriff John Samaniego said, “Although this is not the outcome that we wanted for the family of Mr. Harris, we will continue to search for answers in this case that may help give his family closure.”
Anyone who has additional information in this case is encouraged to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 205-670-6000 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777, or on their website at www.crimestoppersmetroal.com.