Warren police investigate human bones found in woods along Youngstown Road in Warren
Staff report
WARREN
The Warren Police Department is investigating the discovery of human bones in woods behind the Econo Lodge on Youngstown Road on Tuesday evening.
The department’s forensic officer processed and secured the bones and turned them over to the Trumbull County Coroner’s office.
The department also is compiling a list of missing persons to help identify the person, said Warren Police Chief Eric Merkel.
It’s difficult to tell how long the bones have been there, but it looks to have been quite a while because all that remained were bones. Also found were partial clothing and tennis shoes.
It is not known whether the person was male or female or whether the death was natural or a homicide, but it is being treated as a possible homicide, Merkel said.
Capt. Rob Massucci said the police department is hoping to identify the remains through dental records, but if that fails, DNA could be used.
A motel guest from Elyria discovered the remains about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday while walking in dense woods about 100 yards from the motel parking lot. The guest was talking on his cellphone with his girlfriend when he discovered the remains.
He told his father, who also was staying at the motel, and the father called police after investigating it himself and concluding that the bones might be real.
The father said he “took his right pinky finger to tap on the skull, which he said felt real.”
The bones were under a partially collapsed tree, and investigators also found evidence that people were using the woods for camping purposes, possibly homeless people, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call 330-841-2576.