Nut44x4
06-16-2008, 02:50 PM
Okay.....I have been holding this one for a while in hopes for an ID. Didn't happen, so here goes>> GRAPHIC WARNING SKULL IS SHOWN
Veguita Resident Finds Human Skull
April 17, 2008
SOCORRO, New Mexico (STPNS) -- The upper part of a human skull was found in a ditch bank of the Rio Grande in northern Socorro County.
According to Chief Deputy Sheriff Preciliano "Shorty" Vaiza, the skull was found by Veguita resident Ruben Moreno.
Sheriff's deputy Adrian Tapia said Moreno discovered the skull fragment while biking in a remote area near the river.
"Mr. Moreno spotted the skull while biking along the river in January," Tapia said. "At that time he thought it best to secure it in a nearby tree stump. He told us he forgot about it until recently, and then called us."
Moreno showed Tapia and deputy Dave Marquez the spot where he found the skull Sunday afternoon.
"It was located about 4.7 miles north of Highway 60 in the eastern bank of the river near a ditch," Tapia said. "That area is inaccessible by car."
The skull was brought to the sheriff's office and the medical examiner was contacted Monday.
Office of the Medical Investigator agent Keith Bailey made a preliminary examination of the skull.
He said the condition of the bone fragment indicated that it could be decades old.
"It looks to be at least 10 years old, but we won't know for sure until it's tested in the lab," Bailey said. "It may be that of a small female or even a youngster, given its size."
Bailey said the skull had probably been buried or under water for a long time and had no evidence of bleaching.
"With all those rains it could even have come from an Indian ruin," he said. "Hopefully the lab will be able to get some DNA from it."
He said under normal conditions, the skull should not have been moved until authorities were contacted.
"But that area is now under water," Bailey said.
Vaiza agreed that the identity of the person will be difficult to ascertain, and is asking for help from the public in case the remains are not ancient.
"If anyone in the public has knowledge of a missing person within the last few years, please contact the sheriff's office," Vaiza said. "It may be possible to match the DNA of the skull with that of a living relative."
Vaiza said anyone with information should call the Socorro County Sheriff's Office at 835-0941.
http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=86349731002178912
http://www.topix.net/content/smalltown/2008/04/veguita-resident-finds-human-skull
Veguita Resident Finds Human Skull
April 17, 2008
SOCORRO, New Mexico (STPNS) -- The upper part of a human skull was found in a ditch bank of the Rio Grande in northern Socorro County.
According to Chief Deputy Sheriff Preciliano "Shorty" Vaiza, the skull was found by Veguita resident Ruben Moreno.
Sheriff's deputy Adrian Tapia said Moreno discovered the skull fragment while biking in a remote area near the river.
"Mr. Moreno spotted the skull while biking along the river in January," Tapia said. "At that time he thought it best to secure it in a nearby tree stump. He told us he forgot about it until recently, and then called us."
Moreno showed Tapia and deputy Dave Marquez the spot where he found the skull Sunday afternoon.
"It was located about 4.7 miles north of Highway 60 in the eastern bank of the river near a ditch," Tapia said. "That area is inaccessible by car."
The skull was brought to the sheriff's office and the medical examiner was contacted Monday.
Office of the Medical Investigator agent Keith Bailey made a preliminary examination of the skull.
He said the condition of the bone fragment indicated that it could be decades old.
"It looks to be at least 10 years old, but we won't know for sure until it's tested in the lab," Bailey said. "It may be that of a small female or even a youngster, given its size."
Bailey said the skull had probably been buried or under water for a long time and had no evidence of bleaching.
"With all those rains it could even have come from an Indian ruin," he said. "Hopefully the lab will be able to get some DNA from it."
He said under normal conditions, the skull should not have been moved until authorities were contacted.
"But that area is now under water," Bailey said.
Vaiza agreed that the identity of the person will be difficult to ascertain, and is asking for help from the public in case the remains are not ancient.
"If anyone in the public has knowledge of a missing person within the last few years, please contact the sheriff's office," Vaiza said. "It may be possible to match the DNA of the skull with that of a living relative."
Vaiza said anyone with information should call the Socorro County Sheriff's Office at 835-0941.
http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=86349731002178912
http://www.topix.net/content/smalltown/2008/04/veguita-resident-finds-human-skull