Human bones found in a wooded patch outside Lakeland on Thursday night have triggered a death investigation, with Polk County deputies sealing off the rural scene while forensics teams search for clues.
The remains were discovered in thick brush just off country roads northwest of the city, and deputies have cordoned off the area as evidence technicians move carefully through the woods.
According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched around 7:47 p.m. to a wooded area near Fish Hatchery Road and Morgan Combee Road after a caller reported what appeared to be human remains. Detectives have opened a death investigation, and forensics personnel are working the scene.
What local outlets reported
Local television crews quickly converged on the area, with FOX 13 reporting that deputies located the bones shortly before 8 p.m., putting the discovery in the late-evening hours. WTSP reported that the sheriff's office is expected to release additional updates on Friday as the investigation moves forward.
What investigators will do next
The recovered remains are expected to be examined by the medical examiner, who will work to determine cause and manner of death and help identify the person. That process can take days or even weeks, depending on the condition of the bones and what evidence can be recovered.
Polk County has previously turned to advanced DNA testing and genealogical research to crack unsolved homicides, including a decades-old case involving a murdered Lakeland nurse highlighted by LkldNow. Those same tools could come into play again if routine testing fails to produce a quick match.
How to help
Anyone with information about the area or the discovery is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200 or submit a tip through the agency's website. The Polk County Sheriff's Office maintains a news page where officials say they will post updates as the case develops.
