Published: January 10, 2007 01:15 pm
Skull talks to investigators
Forensics exam provides some clues into remains found last month.
By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com
PALO PINTO – The day after Christmas, partial human remains were discovered a mile northeast of Palo Pinto County and the recent examination of a forensic anthropologist has shed a little more light on who it was.
The remains have been identified as belonging to a male, said Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer.
Though they weren’t able to pinpoint a specific age, Mercer said the skeleton indicated the man’s age was between early 20s to middle aged. They were also able to determine his height as 5 feet 5 inches tall give or take an inch, he said.
The anthropologist was able to determine the deceased was probably Hispanic, Mercer added.
Examining the skull’s shape made the determination of his ethnicity.
Mercer explained that the anthropologists use a table or chart with skull shapes and characteristics in making the distinctions between different ethnicities.
“There’s distinct differences,” he said.
As for the mystery man, the anthropologist told officials the skull was right on line for a Hispanic.
Along with a skull and various leg bones, little else was initially discovered to shed light on the identity of the person. Of the deceased’s attire, only small remnants of a pair of Wrangler jeans remained.
The remnants consisted of the jeans pockets and the brads. The sheriff said the words, “T Howard” were written 1-inch tall in red ink in the right front pocket while “Howard” was written in smaller, black letters in the left front pocket. Officials have hoped someone can identify these apparent laundry marks.
Mercer said no one has been able to identify the laundry marks but they are not through with that possible lead.
Also found by the skeleton were two dimes minted in 1998 and a snap ring with a key ring containing a skeleton key, a military-style can opener and a pair of fingernail clippers. A small metal ring was also discovered at the site.
Further investigation of the skeleton’s resting site with the use of cadaver dogs brought a single tooth, a partial pair of tennis shoes and the elastic band for underwear to light.
For now, Mercer said the bones will remain with the anthropologist at the University of North Texas for further examination.
“They’re going to do some more work
try to get some DNA from the bones,” he said.
He explained that they would be able to make positive identification through DNA matching if a possible identity for the remains arises.
According to Mercer, the anthropologists didn’t indicate how long that process would take.
Anyone with information can contact the Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office at 659-2085 or email the office at wise.eyes@co.palo-pinto.tx.us
http://www.mineralwellsindex.com/homepage/local_story_010131528.html?keyword=leadpicturestory
Investigators released sketches Thursday that they hope will help identify skeletal remains found near Palo Pinto last December.
The drawings are an artist’s rendition of what they assume the man looked like. Investigators said the remains are those of a 45 to 65 year old Hispanic male who had been dead for nearly a decade.
The name T. Howard was written inside the right front pocket of the man’s jeans. They also found a small skeleton key, a military can opener and a fingernail clipper.
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/11086795/detail.html?dl=headlineclick