Missing Rice Lake woman’s remains not recovered at incinerator plant

The investigation into the disappearance of a Rice Lake woman will continue after her remains were not recovered at the Barron County Waste to Energy and Recycling Center.

Melissa R. Davis, 39, was last seen on foot the evening of May 13 in the area of Allen and Main streets in Rice Lake, and the Rice Lake Police Department called on neighbors to check their surveillance cameras and outbuildings during the investigation into her disappearance.

The Police Department had previously reported that video footage taken around the time of her disappearance recorded her entering a commercial dumpster but not leaving. The dumpster’s contents were taken to an incinerator facility for disposal the next day and suspected human remains were seen on video at the plant.

"All of the contents within the incinerator building were eventually processed through the incinerator,” the police previously stated.

The police said on Wednesday that they have spent the last two weeks attempting to recover Davis’ remains with the help of Waste to Energy and Republic Services Lake Area Landfill, with help from Barron County Sheriff’s Department detectives and cadaver dogs.

“This search included ash remnants from the Barron County Waste to Energy and Recycling Center for the date that the human remains were observed on video inside the facility,” the news release said. “No remains were recovered.”

The police have discontinued searching the waste facility at this time, and will continue to investigate further leads and analyze video evidence as it becomes available.