Coroner Identifies Human Remains Found In Slidell-Area Pond

Authorities Say The Investigation Remains Open As Officials Work To Determine How Maurice A. Appleton Died

The skeletal remains recovered last month from a retention pond near Slidell have been identified as Maurice A. Appleton, according to the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office.

Authorities said Appleton, born in 1959 and last known to live in Slidell, had been missing for several months before the identification was made. His next of kin has been notified, according to reporting based on the coroner’s announcement.

The investigation began on April 20, when St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a retention pond near Indiana Avenue and U.S. 11 after someone fishing in the area found what appeared to be human skeletal remains in the water.

The sheriff’s office said the coroner’s office and LSU’s Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services, or FACES, laboratory were brought into the case. Officials later said Appleton was identified through evidence that included clothing and surgical implants.

Investigators have not closed the case. Authorities said they are still working to determine the time, cause and manner of death. Foul play is not currently suspected, but officials have said it has not been fully ruled out.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office at 985-898-2338, Slidell Police Department at 985-643-3131, or the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office at 985-781-1150.

Why This Matters In Slidell

The identification answers one part of a case that drew attention in Slidell after remains were found in a body of water near a well-traveled corridor by Indiana Avenue and U.S. 11. But key questions remain unanswered, including how long Appleton had been there and what caused his death. For local residents, the case remains both a public-safety matter and a reminder that even when foul play is not initially suspected, investigations can remain active until forensic work is complete.