Human remains found near Sabine River in Newton County now identified

Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby announced Monday that the human remains found earlier this year near the banks of the Sabine River at Bon Wier, have been confirmed through DNA testing to be that of Wayne Wardell Ayers, a 52-year-old Vidor man who was reported missing in April. According to Burby, Ayers was last seen in the small community of Gist in South Jasper County and his disappearance was first reported by family members who contacted the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department. However, Burby said that a short time later a vehicle that Ayers was last seen traveling in was found abandoned and burned up in the area of Mansfield Road, south of Vidor in Orange County. Burby said due to the fact that Ayers was last seen in Jasper County, the vehicle was found in the Orange County, and the remains found in Newton County, all three departments were soon involved in the investigation. Burby said evidence led he and others to believe that Ayers was the victim of a homicide. However, he did not reveal any details on the cause of death or other pertinent information, pending completion of the investigation into the death of the man. Burby's announcement was made at a small press conference on Monday afternoon at the Jasper County Sheriff's Department where was accompanied by the Chief Deputy of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, Scotty Duncan, and Colton Havard, who is a detective and public information officer for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. All three lawmen called upon the public to come forward with any information to help solve the crime. Sheriff Burby said, “I firmly believe that someone out there knows something about this case and they need to know that talking to us is strictly confidential." Burby went on to say that the family needed closure and that he and the others were going to do everything they could to solve the case.