Remains of child found in backyard - Lebanon, PA
Remains of child found in backyard Body found by man digging post hole Tuesday, June 17, 2008BY AL WINN For The Patriot-News LEBANON - David Colon had just starting building a playground in his backyard Sunday when he unearthed a bag in the post hole he was digging. Inside the bag, buried less than a foot deep, were the remains of what authorities say is a fetus or an infant. "What kind of person would do something like this?" said Colon, who has lived in one of the four apartments at 536 N. Eighth St. since his father, Salvadore, bought the building about three years ago. "These are things you only hear about," he said. Police also wonder who buried the remains and ask anyone with information to come forward. An autopsy is scheduled for today. "I can imagine a lot of scenarios," Lebanon Police Capt. Dan Wright said. He described the remains as "more than skeletal." Colon said there was flesh on the body. How long the remains had been buried is unknown, and Wright said investigators are hoping to learn more from the autopsy. Lebanon County Coroner Dr. Jeffrey Yocum called the remains a fetus but said he couldn't rule out that the child had been born. Police said the remains were in a plastic bag, which was in what Colon called a "brown kitchen bag." Colon, 27, said he initially thought the remains might be those of an animal, but he said he suspected the worst. When police came, he asked, "Is that what I think it is?" The officer nodded, he said. Beverly Harris, who lives next door, said police canvassed the neighborhood Sunday interviewing residents. The area has a pretty high residential turnover, she said. Standing in his backyard Monday morning, Colon placed a white rose at the site where the body was found. He still wants to build a playground for his four children, he said, but he'll probably place a small fence around the place where the remains were buried. AL WINN: 507-6413 or awinn@patriot-news.com HOW TO HELP Police ask that anyone with information about the remains found in the backyard at 536 N. Eighth St., Lebanon, call them at 272-6611. http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1213659604282960.xml&coll=1&thispage=2

Infant remains investigation continues by AL WINN, For The Patriot-News Tuesday June 17, 2008, 2:11 PM An examination of the human remains found in a northside Lebanon backyard Sunday will focus on the victim's lungs, said Lebanon County Coroner Jeffrey Yocum. The maturity of the lungs, he said, will help determine whether the infant was born dead or could have survived on its own following birth. The baby was premature, Yocum said. "It was born before its time," he said. Police said an initial autopsy verified that the remains were human. A press release said there would be no more reports on the autopsy until final lab, toxicology, and medical reports are completed. Officials said they didn't know when the work would be done. In the meantime, Lebanon Police Chief William Harvey said police have received "immense cooperation" from the public resulting in many useful leads. He said many of the leads were pointing in the same direction, but that further investigation was necessary before police would name a suspect. Just what a suspect would be charged with would be determined by police and the Lebanon County District Attorney's office, Harvey said. Assistant District Attorney Robert McAteer, who has been assigned responsibility for the investigation in the DA's office said it would come down to "the facts and the person's state of mind at the time." http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2008/06/remains_investigation_focuses.html