NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the discovery of human remains at the Ord Bend Park.

Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones said the remains were found at around 3:30 p.m. Friday by a Glenn County Public Works Department employee and a county inmate worker.

During clean up of a burn pile operation, a human skull was uncovered. Jones was notified of the situation by the supervisor of the worker on scene.

The sheriff and deputies responded and confirmed the find, also discovering additional bones. The area was declared a crime scene and the park was closed.

Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit were called to the scene. Due to the area still burning, the Ord Bend Fire Department was summoned to mist the area with water, Jones reported.

The scene was guarded through the night by members of the Sheriff’s Posse and the painstaking and laborious effort of processing the scene was started at 7 a.m. Saturday, according to Jones.

With the assistance of the Glenn County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue, dirt excavated from the scene was sifted through and additional bones were found, Jones said.

Jones said a specialist in forensic anthropology preliminarily identified the remains of that of a Caucasian female, between the ages of 35 to 45 years; however, additional forensic work must be completed.
 
The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the investigation as a homicide. The process of attempting to identify the victim will now begin. Jones said the victim is classified as a Jane Doe at this time.   

He said it is far to early to determine whether or not the victim died at the location the remains were found or was dumped there. It is also yet to be determined how long the remains have been there but preliminary estimates put it at several months. The cause of death also is unknown.   

Jones said work was completed late Saturday afternoon at the crime scene and the park was reopened.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available, Jones said.