As many as 20 human skulls have been present in a New Mexico house after the person who lived there tossed bones out of a automotive whereas hitching a journey, in line with police.
Police made the grisly discovery earlier this month at a residence in Jal “associated with rumors of human remains,” in line with the Lea County Sheriff’s Workplace, which mentioned a few of them seem to belong to a girl who vanished in 2019.
Authorities started investigating after they obtained a troubling cellphone name from a resident who reported an “unsettling encounter” whereas providing somebody a journey on Nov. 5.
The resident claimed the passenger, recognized by police as Cecil Villanueva, “made alarming statements” and threw gadgets from his car — a few of which “appeared to be human bones,” police mentioned.
Police searched the world close to a comfort retailer and located bone fragments {that a} pathologist later confirmed to be human.
Authorities executed a search warrant of the house the next day and located extra bone fragments, together with a part of a cranium and jawbone.
Police mentioned “10-20” human skulls have been found throughout a second search of the home three days later.
The skulls have been transported to the Medical Investigator’s Workplace in Albuquerque to be recognized.
The sheriff’s workplace mentioned the case is intently tied to the disappearance of 43-year-old Angela McManes, who was final seen in Could 2019.
Her final recognized deal with was within the space of Villanueva’s residence, cops mentioned.
“Authorities are working diligently to determine the connection between the remains and McManes, as well as other possible victims,” LCSO mentioned.
Police are additionally investigating whether or not there was any foul play related to the bones.
Undersheriff Michael Walker advised KRQE. that investigators imagine the skulls might have been bought on-line over the course of a number of years.
Villanueva has not been charged within the case, however was in custody on the Lea County Detention Heart Wednesday for an unrelated misdemeanor cost of prison trespass, officers mentioned.
