NORMAN — Oklahoma City police uncovered the remains of a woman buried in a shallow grave Friday in the backyard of a vacant residence in Norman.
Oklahoma City Police Capt. Patrick Stewart said detectives began searching an area around 1100 Fountain Gate Court in Norman on Thursday for the remains of a missing Oklahoma City woman.
Angela Biggers, 48, was reported missing Dec. 8. She was last seen by a co-worker two days earlier.
Stewart said Biggers’ body has never been found. An investigation led detectives to the address on Fountain Gate Court. Police received information that Biggers’ remains would be found on the property.
He said neighbors indicated the home has been vacant between six and eight months.
Stewart said investigators secured a search warrant Thursday and began excavating what appeared to be a shallow grave in the backyard. No remains were found Thursday.
Police remained at the scene Thursday night and resumed the investigation Friday.
“Detectives continued the excavation process this morning,” Stewart said. “They have located the human remains of a female, but we are not able — at this point — to make an identification.”
He said the State Medical Examiner’s Office will have the task of identifying the remains. The process could be done through DNA testing or dental records.
Stewart said investigators continued processing the scene after the remains were found. Police anticipated completing their work in the neighborhood by Friday night.
“This excavation process is extremely detailed,” Stewart said. “We appreciate [that] we had the assistance of both the State Medical Examiner’s Office and the University of Oklahoma Archaeology Survey Group.”
Stewart said he didn’t know how long the remains were buried in the grave. Biggers’ family was notified about the recent findings.
He said detectives issued an arrest warrant on a charge of first-degree murder for Biggers’ boyfriend, Ronald Seth Banks, 34, of Oklahoma City, on Dec. 11. Banks was arrested that day at a bus terminal in Fort Worth, Texas.
Court records show Oklahoma County prosecutors have charged Banks with first-degree murder. He is being held in the Oklahoma County without bail.
Stewart said Biggers’ 2001 Ford Focus was found Dec. 13 at an apartment complex at Southeast 15th Street and High in Oklahoma City.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
