Human remains in home identified as those of Billie Jean James

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 | 8:50 a.m.

The Clark County Coroner's Office today identified human remains found in a south Las Vegas Valley home earlier this week as those of Billie Jean James.

James, 67, had been missing since April 22. The remains were found by James’ husband, Billy James, shortly before noon Wednesday as he was cleaning a cluttered back room of their home.

The coroner's office this morning said the cause of her death and the manner of death haven't been determined.

Authorities conducted extensive searches of the house after Billie Jean James disappeared, but Metro spokeswoman Barbara Morgan said Thursday that "clutter was just a major factor in the investigation."

Billie Jean James had lived in the home with her husband of 40 years. In May, police said they believed she had left the home on foot.

James’ family met with the media in May to offer a $10,000 reward to anyone with information leading to her whereabouts. Police and family friends had extensively searched the area by that time, using helicopters and vehicles.

Billy James was inside the home playing dominoes just before he found the remains Wednesday in the back room.

On May 17, Billy James asked the public to be on the lookout for his wife.

“Today is Day 27 of looking for Billie Jean,” he said. “I don’t know where she is. I just want her back home.”

At the time, James said he and his wife were planning to leave for a trip to Hawaii on April 23, the day after he thought she possibly wandered from home.

In November, Billie Jean James suffered a mini-stroke, her husband said. At the time, she was confused and disoriented, but she “recovered completely,” he had said.

Friends have described Billie Jean James as an active woman with a vibrant personality who enjoyed hiking and the outdoors.

Metro Police continue to investigate.