By ABIGAIL WHITEHOUSE

abigail.whitehouse@theinteriorjournal.com

STANFORD — Lincoln County deputy coroner Brian Jenkins has confirmed the dead woman found Saturday was 22-year-old Desiree Sparks of Danville, who had been missing since Tuesday.

The cause of her death is still under investigation.

Officials were called to West Skyline Drive Saturday afternoon after the body of an unidentified female was found in the woods by people riding four-wheelers nearby.

Kentucky State Trooper Josh Brashears, of Post 7 in Richmond which is overseeing the investigation, said police are calling it a death investigation at this time.

The age of the deceased female remains unknown at this time and Brashears said he could not comment on whether foul play is suspected or if there is any connection to Desiree Sparks who reported missing out of Boyle County on Tuesday.
“We will have to wait for positive identification before we can speculate on that,” Brashears said.

“I spoke to detectives a little bit ago and the only thing they are releasing right now is we are doing a death investigation and they are forwarding the body to the medical examiner for a cause of death and positive identification,” Brashears said. “They are not releasing the identity right now. It is a female.”

Little details are known at this time, but according to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies the deceased body of a white female was found by people participating in a benefit four-wheeler ride near 1250 Skyline Drive. She was found with no clothes on.

The riders stopped to call law enforcement at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and as of 4:10 p.m., Deputy Coroners Brian Jenkins and Tony Floro were still processing the scene.

Brashears said KSP Post 7 is overseeing the ongoing investigation.

No information regarding the cause of death or identity of the deceased woman has been released at this time.

Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Mullins said he spoke with property owners in the secluded area who told him there is quite a bit of traffic in the early morning hours.
Jenkins said there is no other factual information to release at this time.

Lincoln County Sheriff Curt Folger and Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Mullins were first to arrive on scene, followed by Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Mullins, Constable Eddie “Popcorn” Brown, Kentucky State Police detectives and deputy coroners.

This story will be updated as soon as more information is made available.