PHOENIX — Authorities are investigating after fragments of human remains were discovered inside a splintered wooden box in a remote desert area of Yavapai County on Monday.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the discovery was made by a man who was grading the land with a tractor when he uncovered the box and bones.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene, bringing in search-and-rescue dogs and officials from the medical examiner’s office, initially suspecting the case could be linked to a recent crime. However, early analysis suggests the remains are between 55 and 85 years old, indicating they may date back to the mid-20th century or earlier.
Historical experts called in
In an effort to piece together the mystery, authorities have asked experts from the Prescott-based Sharlot Hall Museumto review the site and provide historical context that could shed light on the origins of the remains.
The bones, along with the remnants of the box, are now being studied by a team of historians and forensic experts in hopes of determining who the remains belonged to and how they ended up buried in the desert.
The investigation remains ongoing.
