November 14, 2023 |
Photo – Replica Skull – Courtesy Amazon.com
This weekend, elk hunters discovered a sun-bleached human skull north of Wamsutter.
At 10:30 am, on the morning of Saturday, November 11th, the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office received a call about possible human remains. Deputy Jason Mower said a group of elk hunters made a grisly discovery while tracking a wounded elk through a remote section of the Red Desert.
Deputy Mower said no other bones were spotted in the area. Deputy Mower said the skull seems to have been exposed to the elements for a long time. The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Deputy said investigators did not see any evidence of a crime.
Deputy Mower said searchers did not locate any other items related to the skull, such as clothing or jewelry. The Sweetwater County Coroner has taken the skull to be DNA tested.
Deputy Mower said his department is unaware of any disappearances or missing persons cases in the area. The deputy said he is hoping the coroner’s report contains information that helps identify the skull’s owner.
Deputy Mower said the skull was devoid of tissue matter. Considering the condition of the skull and the desolate location it was discovered in, Deputy Mower said it’s impossible to determine how old the bones are. The deputy said the skull’s owner does not necessarily have to have been a murder victim.
Deputy Mower said the victim could have chosen the area to commit suicide specifically because of its remote nature. However, Deputy Mower said the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office isn’t ruling anything out, including the possibility of murder.
Deputy Mower said he won’t have any more information until the Sweetwater County Coroner receives the results of the forensic analysis on the skull.
