'Mummified' Remains Of Missing Alabama Woman Found In Storage Unit; 2 Men Arrested

Prattville, Alabama -- The "mummified" remains of a woman, who was reported missing, have been found in a storage unit in Alabama.

James Michael Barrett, 52, and Edward Norman, 60, were arrested and charged with the abuse of a corpse following the discovery of the woman's body in Prattville, officials said Monday.

The remains belonged to 36-year-old Britta Lashley, whose mother reported her missing in June, according to WSFA 12 News.

Tammy Lashley, of Tennessee, called the Autauga County Sheriff's Office on June 15 and informed officials that she hadn't seen or heard from her daughter since February last year. Tammy also told them she was worried "something bad" had happened to Britta, the sheriff's office said.

Britta was last known to be in the company of Barrett, the mother said. She had even spoken to the man about her daughter's whereabouts.

"Tammy Lashley last spoke with James Michael Barrett by phone, several weeks before filing the report," according to a deposition, AL.com reported. "He advised her that he would have Britta Lashley contact her; however, Britta Lashley did not contact her mother."

Her last known location was in Prattville. She "has been know [sic] to hang around with James Michael Barrett," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook at the time.

Investigators found that Norman had rented a U-Haul truck and assisted Barrett in transporting Britta's body. They moved her remains from the Comfort Stay motel in Montgomery to the Prattville storage unit. Court documents described her remains as "mummified." However, it was not clear what caused her death.

After obtaining a search warrant, deputies found the missing woman's remains in the storage unit that belonged to Barrett.

"A search of the unit uncovered the remains of a white female believed to be Britta Lashley. Abuse of corpse warrants were obtained for Michael Barrett and an acquaintance, Edward Norman," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook update. "Based on Britta's physical description, her known tattoos, and other investigative findings, the Autauga County Sheriff's Office is confident the remains are those of Britta Ann Lashley."

No evidence of homicide has been found so far, Chief Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson said.

Barrett and Edward Norman were released after posting bonds, Montgomery Advertiser reported.