Big Bear residents are grappling with unsettling news as a death investigation is underway following the discovery of human remains near Cactus Flats. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, deputies were called to the scene on Smarts Rancho Road north of Big Bear last Saturday, after a hunter reported finding a human skull at around 3:03 p.m.
The initial response by the deputies confirmed the skull was human, prompting further investigation. On the following day, the Coroner's Division and Specialized Investigations Division investigators arrived to conduct a thorough search of the area, which led to the discovery of additional remains, "The reporting was hunting in the area when he found the remains," the sheriff's office disclosed.
An autopsy is scheduled to identify the decedent and determine the cause and manner of death. Details surrounding the identity of the individual and the circumstances of their death remain shrouded in mystery as the investigation continues. Law enforcement is reaching out to the public for any information that may assist in this case.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner’s Department has urged anyone with information to contact the Specialized Investigations Division at 909-890-4904. For those wishing to remain anonymous, tipsters can reach out to We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463), or through the tip line's website. No further details have been released at this time, and the Specialized Investigations Division, led by Detective E. Perez, is handling the ongoing case designated as H# 2024-112 DR# 062400880.
