Identified! CA - Humboldt Co., Male Skeletal Remains @ Cuneo Creek, Aug'14 - Luis Raya

[zwiebel]

'The jawbone was in the middle of a trail on the west side of the Cuneo Creek Horse Camp, an equestrian site in Humboldt Redwoods State Park just off of Bull Creek Road'

'The campers who found the jawbone and skull remarked that the teeth were remarkably straight and white, with no visible dental work. Because of this they surmised that the remains could be of a child or young person, a theory that the coroner would not confirm.'

WARNING. Photo of human remains at link.
http://www.northcoastjournal.com/Bl...remains-found-in-humboldt-redwoods-state-park

 

[FigTree]

http://www.northcoastjournal.com/Bl...remains-found-in-humboldt-redwoods-state-park

It seems so remarkable, that the the jaw bone is so clean - it looks so out of place there (beyond it being a jawbone on a trail iykwim).
Maybe its just the picture.
I hope they find who this belongs to
Its extraordinary it was found at all - like it was meant to be found.

 

[mbush]

Aren't both wisdom teeth there? If so, that doesn't seem like it would be a child. The teeth look perfect including the fully erupted wisdom teeth. The jawbone doesn't look like it has been there very long either.

 

[OkieGranny]

I'm thinking maybe teen, young adult. Remarkably straight and white suggests orthodontics and perhaps cosmetic whitening treatment.

 

[NancyDrew1981]

Stupid question - could those be veneers??

 

[carbuff]

I'm gonna guess hoax of some sort.

Might not be, of course, but something about it just doesn't look right.

 

[77DarkHorse7]

I'm gonna guess hoax of some sort.

Might not be, of course, but something about it just doesn't look right.

Well there's always something not right about human remains indicative of homicide. So sad.

 

[jjohnston0827]

I agree that this just doesn't look right... Those teeth just look too white and perfect to be natural. The obvious decomp of the jaw appears natural, but those teeth! Does anyone know how veneers are affected by decomposition?

 

[traacker13]

Wow! Those are really white. It does look strange. Like a mismatch.

 

[sophiebelle]

That looks like a gum and teeth. Am I missing the jawbone? Is it in the dirt or leaves?

 

[gogrannypop]

It looks like false teeth to me. moo

 

[CarlK90245]

That looks like a gum and teeth. Am I missing the jawbone? Is it in the dirt or leaves?

No, that is not gums. It is just fresh bone that hasn't been fully dried out by the elements yet.

And BTW, it is an adult mandible. The wisdom teeth are fully erupted.

 

[jjohnston0827]

They would be able to tell if the teeth were false and I would assume that would've been mentioned.

 

[CarlK90245]

That looks like a gum and teeth. Am I missing the jawbone? Is it in the dirt or leaves?

No, that is not gums. It is just fresh bone that hasn't been fully dried out by the elements yet.

It looks like false teeth to me. moo

It is not a denture. it is a complete mandible. You can see the condyles on both sides.

Aren't both wisdom teeth there? If so, that doesn't seem like it would be a child. The teeth look perfect including the fully erupted wisdom teeth. The jawbone doesn't look like it has been there very long either.

And BTW, mbush is right. it is an adult mandible. The wisdom teeth are fully erupted.

 

[Oblio]

Yep, too many teeth to be a child. I'm wondering if its one of our missing young women. Still waiting for the ID on the skeleton found a while back, too.

 

[Oblio]

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?238365

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?235752

 

[m_brown]

does not appear to match Sheila Franks, IMO.

 

[carbuff]

Well there's always something not right about human remains indicative of homicide. So sad.

True, but I didn't mean not right in that sense. I meant not right as in the teeth looking like they don't quite match the jaw, or something. I presume if they were obviously implants or something like that, it would have been mentioned, though.

Maybe what's odd is that bone and teeth that fresh would be completely stripped of flesh.

 

[Oblio]

True, but I didn't mean not right in that sense. I meant not right as in the teeth looking like they don't quite match the jaw, or something. I presume if they were obviously implants or something like that, it would have been mentioned, though.

Maybe what's odd is that bone and teeth that fresh would be completely stripped of flesh.

I know we are in the middle of drought, but this area is traditionally "moist". I'd say maggots are pretty efficient.

 

[carbuff]

I know we are in the middle of drought, but this area is traditionally "moist". I'd say maggots are pretty efficient.

Indeed. Maggots, ants, beetles, carrion birds, etc. can do their business pretty efficiently. But there's nothing on that jawbone. Not even a trace of ligament or bits of dried flesh.

It's probably normal but it sure looks weird.