A truck driver is facing charges connected to the death of a woman found at a South Dakota truck stop earlier this week.
Detroit, Michigan-based truck driver Anthony Harris, 60, has been charged with Second-Degree Murder and Improper Disposal, according to the South Dakota Office of Attorney General.
Harris is accused in the death of 57 year old Melody Fae Gooch, also of Detroit.
The body of Gooch was discovered shortly before 11 p.m. on Monday night at the Mitchell I-90 Travel Center in Mitchell, South Dakota.
The Mitchell Republic reports that it is believed that Gooch was run over multiple times and that her body was discovered by another truck driver under a pile of pallets.
According to an affidavit shared by the outlet, “it appeared the deceased person was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot where the human entrails were located. Around the human entrails was blood spatter consistent with a person being struck by a vehicle and then dragged away from the initial impact point.”
Harris is in custody in Washington State.
“South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation and Mitchell law enforcement have been working to notify Melody’s family members, collect evidence, and analyze security videos, and we have now arrested a suspect identified as Anthony Harris,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley. “This has been a cooperative effort between many different local and state agencies.”
“We are continuing to follow up on any information we receive, and the investigation is on-going,” said Attorney General Jackley.
If you have information, you’re asked to call the Mitchell Police Department at 605-995-8400.