Police: Skeletal Remains Found Near Cabazon

The Cabazon sheriff's station is investigating a case involving the discovery of human skeletal remains found in the local hills, officials announced Wednesday.

The discovery was made on Feb. 19, by a local resident who was hiking in the hills south of Cabazon at the 1,500 foot level, according to sheriff's sergeant A. Meservey.  

"During this hike, the local resident found what he believed were human bones and contacted the Riverside County Sheriff's Department," Meservey said.

Deputies then hiked to the area to look into the discovery.

"Investigators with the Coroner's Bureau were able to positively identify the remains as being human," the sergeant said.

Since then, two more follow up searches of the area have been conducted-- the most recent one on Tuesday, Feb. 26, according to investigators.

The third and most recent search utilized the volunteer Riverside County Search Dogs team in an "extensive search," Meservey said.

Lieutenant Peter Ortiz of the Cabazon Station tells Patch the remains were not that of a full human body, only partial, so it's difficult to tell if it was a murder at this time.

"At this point, the homicide bureau has not been involved in the case… but that could change pending the discovery of more bones or information from the public," he said.

The investigation is ongoing, and the remains have not been identified.  The sheriff's department is asking anyone that may have information to help them solve this case contact the investigator handling it, at (951) 922-7100.