Medical examiner IDs body found in Fifth Ward neighborhood as missing woman

Autopsy shows body is of Norma Jean Scott

HOUSTON – An autopsy has determined that a body found in a Fifth Ward neighborhood belongs to a missing 48-year-old mother and grandmother who lives nearby, according to the Medical Examiner's office.

The Houston Police Department said that members of Texas EquuSearch found the naked body of an African-American woman Monday shortly after 6 p.m. in some bushes on Bay Street. They made the discovery about two blocks from Norma Jean Scott's home.

Family members said Scott was last seen Thursday afternoon. The mother of six and grandmother of 18 reportedly left her home with another person and was described as very frightened.

"My mother is not like that. If she's going to leave the house, she's going to be prepared. She's going to take her purse with her and her cellphone," said Robert Scott.

Texas EquuSearch was asked to participate in the search by HPD.

"I told them, 'I want you to start moving into the area over by her house,'" said EquuSearch volunteer Frank Black.

Teams searched by foot and with ATVs.

"They discovered, in an overgrown vacant lot, an adult female. She is naked," said HPD officer J.C. Padilla. "They secured the scene. They contacted our patrol officers. Patrol officers immediately responded to the scene and contacted us."

"I got to live around here. We need a little more police around here. For this to happen so close, this is my front door. I walk up and down the sidewalk," Tommy Kindle said.

Peacock said crime in the area has gotten out of control.

"It's just too violent around here. It needs to be policed a little more or something. I don't know," he said.

Investigators said a person of interest was being questioned in Scott's disappearance. He is being held on unrelated charges. No other information was immediately provided.

"My mother was a loving woman," Robert Scott said. "She didn't have enemies. She couldn't count them on one hand because she didn't have any."

Full Screen
1 / 5