A human skull with part of the jaw missing that was discovered by a group of children in Colorado six years ago has been positively identified by authorities, the sheriff’s office announced Thursday.
The skull belongs to David Michael Crady, who was born in October 1955, but his death and how his body ended up near a utility pole in Lawson, Colorado are shrouded in mystery.
According to a news release issued by the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office, the eerie discovery began in May 2018 when local children discovered a skull and nearby tooth fragments. Authorities said the skull was missing its lower jaw but was otherwise intact.
A few weeks after its discovery, a forensic anthropologist examined the skull and determined it to be that of a male of European descent and found evidence of trauma.
Investigators estimated that Crady had been dead for at least four months, and possibly more than a year.
Authorities said the skull was sent to the University of North Texas for DNA extraction and was then entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
In 2023, the Colorado State Bureau of Investigation used advanced genealogy technology and found a DNA match from the remains.
Police found people who appeared to be family members who had lost contact with Crady and asked the relatives to submit DNA samples, which confirmed Crady’s identity with 99.99 percent accuracy, the sheriff’s office said.
“We deeply appreciate the efforts and collaboration of the University of North Texas, the CBI and our forensic experts,” Sheriff Matthew Harris said in a statement. “We hope this identification will provide some closure for Mr. Crady’s family.”
The sheriff’s office continues to investigate Crady’s death.
