Missing Moulton woman found dead in vehicle

WINSTON COUNTY - The body of a Moulton woman missing the past month was discovered by a member of her search party Sunday afternoon, May 5, in her vehicle parked on a logging road off Highway 33. The body of Jennifer Marshall White, 55, has been transported from the scene to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science to determine the official cause of death. White had reportedly been missing out of Moulton at least 30 days, as searches had been underway since her disappearance by search parties comprised of family members and other individuals, spanning areas throughout Winston and Lawrence counties, noted Winston Sheriff’s Investigator Caleb Snoddy. Many of the searches were along different roads in the Bankhead National Forest, according to Snoddy. “Ultimately we ended up on Highway 33,” he said. A member of the search party found a vehicle matching the description of the one belonging to White and notifed the sheriff’s office, Snoddy noted. The vehicle, described by authorities at the scene as being a black SUV, was found on an old logging road about a quarter mile off Highway 33 in the forest area. Winston County Deputy Coroner Don Dimond received a call around 1:15 p.m. “She had been in the vehicle for an extended period of time,” noted Dimond. “I don’t know how long.” Dimond pronounced White dead at the scene, and the Alabama Department of Forensic Science, Huntsville, came on the scene to transport the body for further evaluation and to determine cause of death, Dimond said. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the family,” Snoddy said. “Glad to help give them closure on this tragedy.” Among those responding to the scene were sheriff’s offices from Winston and Lawrence counties as well as Moulton Police, State Bureau of Investigator, Ashridge Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service, Snoddy said. “I extend my deepest condolences to Mrs. White’s family,” noted Winston County Sheriff Tommy Moore. “I am thankful for any measure of comfort and closure that today’s discovery might bring. “I ask everyone to keep this family in your prayers during the difficult days ahead,” Sheriff Moore added. Sheriff Moore also thanked Lt. Jonathan Winters and the agents with the State Bureau of Investigation, as well as Investigator Snoddy, Chief Deputy Bryan Kirkpatrick and deputies, for their efforts in this case. Thanks was also given to Sonny St. John of the U.S. Forest Service as well as members of the Winston County Coroner’s Office, Winston/Marion County District Attorney’s Office, Mud Tavern Fire Rescue, for their assistance in removal of the body and evidence from the death scene, Sheriff Moore said.