NM-Rio Arriba UP152191 NtvFem Adult; UP152187 NtvFem Adult; UP7365 NtvMale 25-40; UP152188 UnkS&R 3-7; UP152189 UnkS&R Infant @ desert dumpsite in '00

[DS2021]

UP152189, Unk Sex Unk Race Infant
Remains were found commingled with 4 other individuals at an illegal dump site.
Partial skeletal parts only

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP152188, Unk Sex Unk Race, Age 3-7
Recovered with burned remains of 4 other individuals at an illegal dump site.
Partial skeletal parts only

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP7365, Male, American Indian / Alaska Native, 25-40, 5'2"–5'5"
Inventory of Remains: Head not recovered; One or more limbs not recovered; One or both hands not recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable – Partial skeletal parts only

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP152187, Adult Female, American Indian / Alaska Native, Adult
Partial skeletal parts only
Recovered with burned remains of 4 other individuals at an illegal dump site

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP152191, Adult Female, American Indian / Alaska Native, Adult
Partial skeletal parts only
Recovered with burned remains of 4 other individuals at an illegal dump site

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Remains are commingled, and clothing may not belong to this individual.

Green sweater

A blue/turquoise knit shirt

A dark red long-sleeved hooded shirt, size small.

Pink knitted material long-sleeved sweater

Wrangler jeans 34x30

Brown felt cowboy hat

Black NINJA turtle boxer shorts

A dark brown collared shirt with front buttons

A black/gray checked shirt with a black collar and front buttons



Two cases mention Black/gray boots size 8, on the body, and multiple mention 1 switch blade and 1 pocket knife, with one case saying they were near a body, and the other saying they were found on the body. I dont know if that means there's multiples of those items.

 

[DS2021]

Rio Aribba 5

Clipping found in Albuquerque Journal published in Albuquerque, New Mexico on 8/17/2000. Rio Aribba 5

www.newspapers.com

Remains consisted of two skulls and other various bones. At least some of the bones were found underneath an old car hood. It appears the area was a illegal dump site

I am unsure if any other remains were found after this article was published

 

[Mfleish]

Published August 25, 2000. They couldn't connect the bones to any missing persons due to the age of bones being unknown. Aug 25, 2000, page 81 - Albuquerque Journal at Newspapers.com™

 

[Mfleish]

Found one more from September 2, 2000, looks like the remains may be historical? Sep 02, 2000, page 100 - Albuquerque Journal at Newspapers.com™

 

[DS2021]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP152189, Unk Sex Unk Race Infant
Remains were found commingled with 4 other individuals at an illegal dump site.
Partial skeletal parts only

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP152188, Unk Sex Unk Race, Age 3-7
Recovered with burned remains of 4 other individuals at an illegal dump site.
Partial skeletal parts only

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP7365, Male, American Indian / Alaska Native, 25-40, 5'2"–5'5"
Inventory of Remains: Head not recovered; One or more limbs not recovered; One or both hands not recovered
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable – Partial skeletal parts only

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP152187, Adult Female, American Indian / Alaska Native, Adult
Partial skeletal parts only
Recovered with burned remains of 4 other individuals at an illegal dump site

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP152191, Adult Female, American Indian / Alaska Native, Adult
Partial skeletal parts only
Recovered with burned remains of 4 other individuals at an illegal dump site

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Remains are commingled, and clothing may not belong to this individual.
Green sweater
A blue/turquoise knit shirt
A dark red long-sleeved hooded shirt, size small.
Pink knitted material long-sleeved sweater
Wrangler jeans 34x30
Brown felt cowboy hat
Black NINJA turtle boxer shorts
A dark brown collared shirt with front buttons
A black/gray checked shirt with a black collar and front buttons

The 3 adult cases mention Black/gray boots size 8, on the body, and all 3 mention 1 switch blade and 1 pocket knife, with one case saying they were near a body, and the other two saying they were found on the body. I dont know if that means there's multiples of those items.

 

[DS2021]

Found one more from September 2, 2000, looks like the remains may be historical? Sep 02, 2000, page 100 - Albuquerque Journal at Newspapers.com™

Rio Arriba 5 !

Clipping found in Albuquerque Journal published in Albuquerque, New Mexico on 9/2/2000. Rio Arriba 5 !

www.newspapers.com

That's a really good find. They claim the 2 females were historic but it appears they couldn't come to a conclusion on the others

 

[DS2021]

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/main.html?id=3843umnm

3843UMNM - Unidentified
ALT TXT

A dental X-ray of the victim if available here
Date of Discovery: August 13, 2000
Location of Discovery: Espanola, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
Estimated Date of Death: Years prior
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only.
Cause of Death: Unknown

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 25-40 years old
Race: Native American
Sex: Male
Height: 5'4", estimated
Weight: Unknown
Hair: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Fragments of a green sweater. Turquoise shirt. Wrangler jeans 34x30. Black felt hat. Remains are commingled with three others so clothing may not belong
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: 2 rusted pocket knives. Black and gray boots

Circumstances of Discovery

The victim was discovered at an illegal dump site, near the village of Chili, northwest of Española. Children playing on a forest road stumbled onto a pile of human bones and two skulls hidden under a discarded car hood. Law enforcement established that no individual had died at the scene and the bones have been dumped. The human remains have been taken to the state Office of the Medical Investigator, in order to identify the victim and the cause of death. Rio Arriva Sheriff's Detective Johnny Vigil declared that the bones were partially burned. According to investigators, it was difficult to determine how long the bones have been at this location.

Forensic Genealogy

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Rio Arriba County Sheriff Office
Agency Contact Person: Sheriff Bill Merrifield
Agency Phone Number: 505-753-3329
Agency E-mail: BMerrifield(at)rio-arriba.org
Agency Case Number: Unknown
Agency Name: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Agency Contact Person: Peter Loomis, Forensic Odontologist
Agency Phone Number: 505-272-3053
Agency E-mail: Unknown
Agency Case Number: 2000-03962
NCIC Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 7365

Information Source(s)
NamUs
The Santa Fe New Mexican - Aug. 17, 2000

Admin Notes
Added: 07/17/2022; Last Updated: 8/2/22

 

[Mfleish]

It's weird that the bones were burned but the clothing seems to not be. If it was a historical burial, the clothes seem more modern and maybe not related? They also don't seem like burial clothes to me. MOO