The body was found in a creek on County Road 200 South, an area detectives searched last month just days after Ms. Houser was reported missing on November 18th.

“We received information yesterday (Monday) morning, of an area that we thought we needed to look at. It had been searched before but apparently conditions were right today and the body was found,” said Whitley County Sheriff Mark Hodges.

Houser’s ex-husband, Rodney Houser is currently being held at the Whitley County Jail on murder charges.

According to court documents, the couple had a fight the night before Debra was reported missing.

Houser’s daughter said the fight began because Rodney was not home to meet their son when he got off the school bus.

Neighbors are stunned at the discovery.

“When it happens so close, and then they find it in a river, that’s like just a couple minutes down the road from you, it’s like whoa, wake up call,” said Daniel Zuercher, who lives in the closest house to where the body was found.

Rodney Houser is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Monday, December 21st.