Authorities in South Carolina are working "diligently" to learn the identity of skeletal human remains discovered by a utility worker last week, though the bones were "likely" exposed to the elements for years.
The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that deputies and investigators responded to a wooded area off Bethel Road in southwestern Lancaster County on Nov. 13 after a utility worker reported finding what appeared to be human bones. A search of the area was suspended Monday after "several bones and other items of evidence" were found "scattered" over an area of about 100 yards
The remains were confirmed to be human, and are now being examined by a forensic anthropologist with the Richland County Coroner's Office. The identity of the person has not been determined, and neither has the cause and manner of their death.
"It is evident that the person's death did not occur recently and that the remains have been exposed to the elements for a period of time likely measured in years," the sheriff's office said, adding that there is no known threat to the public.
"We are working diligently to determine the identity of the person found," Sheriff Barry Faile said in a statement. "This is a team investigation involving the sheriff's office, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office, the Forensic Anthropology Division of the Richland County Coroner's Office, and Foothills Search & Rescue. We hope examination of the remains by the anthropologist and the coroner will provide information leading to the identity of this person which is always a first step in determining when, where, and how the person died. I encourage anyone with any information about this discovery to contact the sheriff's office."
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office or submit an anonymous tip.
--with reporting by TMX
