Tuesday, JANUARY 6, 2026 |
Photo – Badge over map – Courtesy CCSO
Skeletal human remains were discovered near a Carbon County well site.
Last week, Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken announced that on Friday, December 19th, an oil and gas worker reported finding human bones near an undisclosed well site in the county. Details remain limited, but Sheriff Bakken reported that deputies confirmed the remains were human, and County Coroner Brittany Nyman took possession of the bones.
As the remains were found on BLM land, Sheriff Bakken wrote that Bureau of Land Management archaeologists were notified of the discovery, along with the Wyoming State Archaeologist’s Office.
Comments on Sheriff Bakken’s social media post point to several possibilities. Some users suggested the remains may be those of 73‑year‑old Riverton resident Jose Pereda, missing since 2017. Others mentioned 22‑year‑old Derek Pettigrew of Ft. Collins, who left home on July 15th and was never seen again. Pettigrew’s Subaru station wagon was later found along Highway 127, roughly 3.5 miles south of the Wyoming border. A few commenters also speculated that the remains may belong to 28‑year‑old Susan Marie Powell, who disappeared from West Valley City, Utah in 2009.
Sheriff Bakken stated that additional information will be provided in accordance with BLM and “proper archeological” guidelines.
