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Human remains found in forest east of Pagosa Springs

Skull, clothing discovered east of Pagosa
A human skull was found Tuesday east of Pagosa Springs in the San Juan National Forest. Investigators found other human remains. The identity of the individual and the cause of death are under investigation.

Human remains were found this week east of Pagosa Springs in the San Juan National Forest.

Investigators have not identified the remains or determined whether foul play is suspected, said Tonya Hamilton, undersheriff with the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office. It was also unknown how long the remains may have been out there, she said.

“We’ve heard the entire spectrum, anywhere from less than a year to possibly more than 10,” Hamilton said. “We know so little at this point that we just don’t want to make any speculations.”

A forensic examination is scheduled for Tuesday in Durango.

U.S. Forest Service workers found the skull Tuesday in a rugged and remote area along Mill Creek Road (Forest Service Road 662), about six to eight miles from Colorado Highway 84, Hamilton said. The workers took GPS coordinates and immediately left the area to notify the Sheriff’s Office, she said.

The Sheriff’s Office, county coroner and Colorado Bureau of Investigation set up a command center Wednesday after visiting the site. On Thursday, they did a grid search and identified 69 locations of potential interest, the release says. Fifty-two items were collected, including pieces of clothing, a pair of shoes and sunglasses.

“We collected a lot of bones, but we can’t say for certain until that forensic exam is done what’s what,” Hamilton said.

The remains were turned over to Archuleta County Coroner Dan Keuning, who will transfer them to a forensic pathologist for further analysis. Other items appear to have “significant evidentiary value” and will be turned over to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, she said.

The area where the remains were found was fairly remote and wouldn’t have made a good camping spot, she said.

“The topography was very rough, heavily treed and wooded.”

Investigators have no reason to believe the remains have anything to do with the disappearance of 13-year-old Dylan Redwine, some of whose remains were found in June 2013 northeast of Vallecito Reservoir.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to call Detective Sgt. Warren Brown at 264-8499.

shane@durangoherald.com

Sep 1, 2016
Human remains found east of Pagosa Springs identified


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