HANCOCK COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -
Helping figure out where Jaren Lockhart's dismembered body was dumped into the water is now in the hands of scientists and oceanographers.
A USM Marine Science survey boat combed the water off Long Beach Friday in the area where several of Lockhart's body parts were found.
"The easiest assumption to make is that they were all put in the water in the same place, but that might not be everybody's assumption," said USM Marine Science Chairman Monty Graham.
To answer that key question, the scientists gathered date about waters conditions. Investigators hope that will help pinpoint where and when Lockhart's killer dumped her body.
"What the modeling is going to show you is a few things. It's going to show you how the parts of the body, or any object, but in this case parts of the body, how they interact with wind and current," said Graham.
It's the same technique marine scientists use to track dead sea life.
"When sea turtles wash up on the beach or when dolphins wash up on the beach and you want to know where they potentially died and how they drifted to end up where they are," explained Graham.
As the data is collected, the oceanographers are sharing their findings with investigators. But it will be some time before all the information can be studied.
No more of Lockhart's remains have been found since last Saturday. The USM oceanographers say as each day passes, it's less likely additional remains will wash ashore.
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