January 9, 2020 3:50 a.m.
DNA testing has confirmed that human skeletal remains found in a wooded area just inside Douglas County off Highway 227 on November 12th, are those of a Shady Cove woman, who disappeared almost three years earlier.
Mike Moran of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office told News Radio 1240 KQEN that Malina Nickel was 29 when she went missing on November 23, 2016.
Moran said the discovery was made during a separate homicide investigation in which 20-year old Destiny Finch was the victim. Her body was found just a few days before Nickel’s remains were located. Those remains were transported to the Oregon State Medical Examiners Office and turned over to Dr. Nici Vance, State Forensic Anthropologist, for further evaluation.
Moran said the suspect in that case, 21-year old Shane Wayman, was indicted on charges of criminal mistreatment in the first degree and abuse of a corpse in the second degree, based on circumstantial evidence found at the scene which tentatively identified the remains as Nickel’s.
More information in the case is anticipated in coming days.