Remains found on Signal Mountain believed to be Gail Palmgren
Matthew Palmgren's attorney calls death of Gail Palmgren an accident
Forensic investigators were working to gather the remains believed to be those of Signal Mountain mother Gail Palmgren Friday afternoon.
"They are gathering remains and the plan is to recover the Jeep, and take it all to Knoxville," Janice Atkinson, spokeswoman for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, said.
Atkinson said the remains have not officially been identified as those of Palmgren, whose red Jeep was found Thursday by a Tennessee Highway Patrol search helicopter. The car is believed to have gone off at East Brow Road, past Hampton Road, just inside the town of Walden city limits.
Chattanooga attorney Lee Davis, who was retained by Matthew Palmgren, issued a statement Friday afternoon calling the incident a tragic accident.
"It appears that Gail Palmgren lost control of her Jeep on East Brow Road on April 30, 2011 at approximately 12:25 p.m.," said Davs' statement.
Atkinson said the cause of death and how Palmgren's Jeep went from the top of Signal Mountain to rest shortly above the W Road has not been determined.
"I have no idea," Atkinson said regarding Davis' statement. "I just don't know."
Davis said he based his statement on conversations with law enforcement officials. Matthew Palmgren's private investigator was on the scene as soon as the vehicle was found Thursday and has stayed involved, according to sources who spoke on background.
Davis also said they are satisfied the remains are that of his client's wife.
"Based on the description, location and the proximity of the personal belongings, yes, we believe it is (Palmgren)," he said.
Matthew Palmgren is continuing to work with authorities to help solve the mystery of his wife's disappearance and death, as he has done throughout the seven months he has been under suspicion, Davis said. The family is trying to process the information they have received, he said.
The forensic investigators will work to make a positive identification of the remains and also determine the cause of death, Atkinson said.
The Jeep was found Thursday and remains were found Friday.
