Tuesday, July 25, 2006
The police chief said the skeleton was there 'several months to several years.'
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
BAZETTA -- Police Chief Charles Sayers says he hopes an earring found near a skeleton discovered along the Mosquito Lake shoreline will help determine the person's identity.
Sayers said the earring was located in the vicinity of the body. The body was found by a fisherman in a marshy area off state Route 305, near the entrance to the state park on the south end of the reservoir.
The remains were found atop the marsh about 7:30 p.m. Sunday by Leonard Adams of Laird Avenue, Warren.
Sayers said Adams was fishing with his family when he stumbled upon the skeleton while taking a shortcut; he called 911.
The skeleton, the chief explained, will be delivered to the U.S. Department of Defense in Washington, D.C., where it will be examined by a forensic anthropologist.
He said he is hoping that the forensics expert will be able to determine the race, age, sex and how long the body has been there.
"It's been there several months to several years," the chief said, noting there was no hair, tissue or clothing on the remains.
The earring
A photograph of the earring is being distributed to the press in hopes someone will recognize it. Those who have information are asked to contact township police, (330) 638-5503.
Authorities will continue searching the area using cadaver dogs.
Sayers described the skeleton as "well preserved," and the investigation is being conducted by his department, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, sheriff's and coroner's offices and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The chief said that he has received calls from other law enforcement agencies inquiring about the skeleton to match with their missing-persons reports.
Sayers said he won't begin reviewing missing-persons reports until the military is able to provide more detailed information.
yovich@vindy.com