CALHOUN COUNTY, AL (WBRC) -
The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office is investigating after human skeletal remains were found in the woods near Piedmont.
Deputies say the remains discovered after the Calhoun County Cold Case Unit received a tip on Tuesday. Sheriff Larry Amerson says the tip was "specific enough" that investigators were able to find the body.
"I think we can easily characterize that this is
foul play," Amerson said.
The human remains were found about half a mile into a wooded area three miles south of Piedmont on Highway 21. The area is known as the "old brickyard" and is also near the Chief Ladiga bike trail.
Sheriff Larry Amerson says many missing persons cases are connected to the area, but the remains could be a completely new case.
"I can say the remains are
skeletal, and obviously have been here for a period of time. How long, we
can't say yet, but we're working through that process. We'll be waiting
on lab results to give us some more definitive picture," Amerson said.
Calhoun County District Attorney Brian McVeigh said new technology may help officials determine the identity of the remains.
"There may be technology now that
didn't exist at that time, that can help us, in the age of DNA and other
forensics science. That sort of stuff is a tremendous help in what would
otherwise be described as a cold case situation," McVeigh said.
The D.A. says the first hurdle to clear is determining who the remains belong to.
"Obviously every time you find a
body, you don't have an identity, every family who is missing somebody is going
to wonder, 'Is that my family member?' So it's a delicate situation," McVeigh said.
Investigators have cleared the scene.
Copyright 2012 WBRC. All rights reserved.
Deputies say the skeletal remains were discovered after the Calhoun County Cold Case Unit received a tip on Tuesday. (Photo: Dixon Hayes)
The remains were located in some woods off of Highway 21 near what is known as the "old brickyard." (Photo: Dixon Hayes)
