Murderer Leads Police to Bones

Investigators uncovered bones and a sock at a site where a condemned murderer said he buried a girl’s body more than a decade ago.

Earlier this month, Anton Daryl Meyers agreed to tell investigators how he killed his victim and where to find her body to escape execution. The foot and leg bones were unearthed Friday, and investigators said they are searching for more remains.

The bones must be positively identified, but police said they are certain the remains are those of Kathy Engels, who was 14 when she disappeared in May 1987.

“We hope it’s Kathy,” Police Chief Richard Beary said.

Kathy was last seen walking near a convenience store with Meyers. He was tried for her murder in 1994 and sentenced to death.

In the agreement filed in court Sept. 14, Meyers was required to describe how he killed the girl and where to find her in exchange for having his sentence reduced from death to a prison term of 25 years to life.

Prosecutors said Meyers still is giving conflicting statements that do not match confessions to cellmates, including one heard at his trial.

Unless he revises his account, the deal is off, Assistant State Atty. Chris White said.

“We consider it a win-win,” he said. “We get the body. He goes back to death row.”

Kathy’s grandparents, Charles and Marie Hooper, who raised her, expressed shock after learning of the investigators’ find.

“When it hits, it’ll hit us, but right now we are stunned,” Charles Hooper said.