As many as 20 skulls were discovered at a New Mexico home after the man who lived there threw the bones out of his car while hitchhiking, police said.
Police made a gruesome discovery “related to rumors of human remains” at JAL's residence earlier this month. According to the Lee County Sheriff's Officesays some of them appear to belong to a woman who disappeared in 2019.
Authorities began the investigation after receiving a nuisance call on Nov. 5 from a resident who said he had a “disturbing encounter” when offering his car to someone.
Residents claimed the passenger, identified by police as Cecil Villanueva, “made alarming statements” and threw objects from the car, some of which “appeared to be human bones,” police said. did.
When police searched the area near the convenience store, they found bone fragments that a pathologist later confirmed were human.
Authorities executed a search warrant on the home the next day and found additional bone fragments, including part of a skull and jawbone.
Police said they found “10 to 20” human skulls during a second raid three days later.
The skull was taken to the Medical Investigator's Office in Albuquerque for identification.
The sheriff's office said the case is closely related to the disappearance of 43-year-old Angela McMans, who was last seen in May 2019.
Police said her last known address was near Villanueva's residence.
“Authorities are working diligently to determine the connection between the remains and Mr. McMans, as well as the other victims,” the sheriff's office said.
Police are also investigating whether there was any foul play related to the bones.
Deputy Secretary Michael Walker told KRQE Investigators believe the skulls may have been purchased online over several years.
Villanueva has not been charged in the case, but was being held in the Lee County Jail on Wednesday on an unrelated misdemeanor charge of trespassing, officials said.
