Authorities in Phoenix have initiated an investigation after skeletal remains were discovered in a mountain range in the north part of the city, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. The Phoenix Police Department confirmed that the bones were located near 67th Avenue and Happy Valley Road on Monday, September 9.
Details about the deceased, including their identity and the duration for which the remains might have laid undisturbed against the backdrop of the stark mountain terrain, remain unknown. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office has taken the lead to determine the cause of death, 12 News stated.
While specifics of how the skeletal remains were initially discovered have not been disclosed publicly by the police, they did reveal some information. "When officers arrived, they were told by a witness they believed there were human remains on a remote area on a mountain," according to the statement obtained by 12 News. To navigate to and investigate the scene, police utilized "several resources."
The investigation is currently ongoing, and neither the police nor the medical examiner have yet commented on potential leads or theories regarding how the person met their end. In cases like these, much depends on forensic analysis and whether key identifiers can be salvaged from what time and elements have been left behind. The Phoenix Police Department has refrained from answering questions about whether any personal items or artifacts were found with, the remains that could assist in identification.
