Springfield police on Thursday evening announced that human remains discovered along the James River downstream of the Lake Springfield Dam are believed to be those of Taylor Stawny, a 40-year-old mother who has been missing since mid-June. The remains were located under a log along the riverbank in an area where search teams have been concentrating efforts for more than a month.
Investigation and identification
The Greene County Medical Examiner will conduct the required testing to positively identify the remains, Springfield police said. Investigators have not released a confirmed identification at this time pending the medical examiner's results.
State and local crews, including Missouri State Highway Patrol water units, conducted daily searches in the vicinity after Stawny and three of her daughters were swept over the Lake Springfield Dam on June 14. Two of the daughters — Andrea, 19, and Sofie, 17 — were later reported deceased. A third daughter, 12-year-old Aurelie Stawney, survived the incident.
Family, community response and safety concerns
On Friday, family and friends gathered for a memorial visitation for the three family members lost in the June incident. Those who attended shared memories and support for immediate family members, including relatives who traveled from Germany to be with them.
“The community has been great. I’ve got neighbors here that I don’t usually talk to every day, but they’re here. Friends, people whose lives were touched by the girls. All have come together. We’ve had a whole lot of community support, and I’m really grateful for that,”
— Gilbert Stawny, father of Andrea and Sofie, speaking at the visitation.
Gilbert Stawny also expressed concern about public safety at the dam and called on city officials to make changes, saying signage and physical safeguards have been insufficient. He said the family has started a petition seeking changes to make that stretch of the lake safer.
- Incident: Stawny and three daughters swept over Lake Springfield Dam on June 14.
- Search efforts: Missouri State Highway Patrol water crews conducted daily searches in the area.
- Discovery: Remains found Thursday evening under a log downstream of the dam; Greene County Medical Examiner to confirm identity.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 14 | Stawny and three daughters swept over Lake Springfield Dam. |
| Daily, following incident | Missouri State Highway Patrol water crews searched the river near the dam. |
| Friday (prior to July 24) | Memorial visitation held for Taylor Stawny and daughters Andrea and Sofie. |
| Thursday evening (week of July 20–24) | Human remains found along James River downstream of Lake Springfield Dam, believed to be Taylor Stawny. |
Local implications
The discovery renews questions about public safety at the Lake Springfield Dam and the stretch of the James River below it. The family’s call for better signage and safety measures is likely to increase pressure on city officials to review conditions at the site. City maintenance, park management and public-safety agencies will face scrutiny over whether current precautions meet reasonable standards for an area used by residents and visitors.
For now, authorities are focused on identifying the remains and completing investigative steps. The community support described by the family underscores how the event has affected neighbors across Springfield, a city that has identified itself with close civic ties and volunteer response during crises.
Springfield police asked anyone with information about the June 14 incident or the area near Lake Springfield Dam to contact their tip line. The Greene County Medical Examiner will release identification information when testing is complete and family notifications have been carried out.
