Human Bone Fragments Find Update

September 26, 2011

On Sunday September 25th, the Medical Examiner went to the site of the human bone fragments discovery in the backyard of a home in the 600 block of Monterey Street to explore the sight for further remains. They found a few more bone fragments and stopped the dig when they came to the conclusion that this find is historical, not forensic in nature. The bone fragments are very old, possibly Native American. This is no longer a police investigation. The Medical Examiner has notified the Native American Heritage Commission of their findings.

On Wednesday September 21, 2011 Officers were dispatched to a home in Oceanside's Capistrano Neighborhood to investigate the origin of small bone fragments that were found just below the surface of the ground during a construction project. Officers collected the fragments and the Medical Examiner’s Office examined them on September 23rd; the Medical Examiner determined the bones were human. Detectives returned to the home to inspect the scene where the fragments were located. The bone fragments were found to the rear of the home near the structure, approximately 6 inches below the surface of compacted dirt. The fragments were under concrete steps that were at least 30 years old according to the owner. Our initial assessment, based on the proximity of the fragments to the surface, was that this was not a grave site.

( Press Release )