Two skulls and additional skeletal remains have turned up in separate rural stretches of Monterey County in the past month, putting the Coroner Division at the center of a careful, quietly unfolding investigation.
The first discovery came on Dec. 29 near Viejo Road, where a land surveyor stumbled on what appeared to be a human skull. The second surfaced last Thursday along a secluded portion of Cachagua Road in Carmel Valley, when people out walking spotted another skull and nearby bones. In both cases, deputies and the Coroner Division processed the scenes and sent the remains out for forensic testing.
Skull found near Viejo Road
On Dec. 29, a land surveyor working in an unincorporated area near Viejo Road reported finding what looked like a human skull. Deputies confirmed the discovery, locked down the area, and handed the case to the Coroner Division. Over the next several days, investigators recovered additional skeletal material. Officials say any identification will hinge on DNA testing and comparison with state missing-and-unidentified person records, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
Second discovery in Carmel Valley
Last Thursday, around 6:45 p.m., walkers along a rural stretch of Cachagua Road in Carmel Valley reported finding a skull and other remains. Deputies responded, and the Coroner Division spent several days processing the scene, as reported by SFGATE. Andres Rosas, a spokesperson for the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, told SFGATE the coroner's office is still working to determine whether the bones recovered there belong to a single individual.
Forensics and what comes next
Investigators say the remains from both locations have been collected and forwarded to the Coroner Division for forensic examination. That process, officials note, includes DNA analysis and database checks with the California Department of Justice. Law enforcement has not publicly classified any of the cases as homicides while they wait for lab results and records comparisons.
Separate body found near Salinas
In a separate case, deputies found a man's body in an agricultural field north of Highway 183 near McFadden Road. The Coroner Unit is working to identify him and determine the cause of death, according to CBS News Bay Area. The sheriff's office has not released further details about that investigation.
How locals can help
Officials are asking anyone with information about any of the scenes to contact the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. Tips can be shared through the department's non‑emergency line or submitted anonymously online, local outlets report. This story will be updated as the Coroner Division releases DNA findings and investigators share more details.
