UNSOLVED NM - Skeletal Human Remains Found Near New Mexico's Baylor Canyon

[doodles1211]

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Dona Ana County Sheriff's detectives say they're investigating the discovery of skeletal human remains near the Baylor Canyon area of the Organ Mountains.

They say a hiker made the discovery Friday evening.

Sheriff's detectives responded and began an initial investigation of the area, locating some personal effects and a backpack near the remains.

They say documents found inside the backpack might help identify the remains, which were transported Saturday to the New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-st...-remains-found-near-new-mexicos-baylor-canyon

 

[Cherry]

Made me think of Kyron Horman.

 

[BethAnn777]

Made me think of Kyron Horman.

Curious why you thought of Kyron?

 

[BethAnn777]

Hiker describes human skull found in Organ Mountains: 'It had staples in it'

Another article with a bit more detail:

The hiker found the sun bleached skull resting upon a backpack. There was also a femur bone nearby. No flesh on any of the bones.

The skull had staples in it suggesting some type of prior head surgery.

There were sunglasses, ripped up underware and a bloody t-shirt nearby.

 

[Beekarina]

Hiker describes human skull found in Organ Mountains: 'It had staples in it'

Another article with a bit more detail:

The hiker found the sun bleached skull resting upon a backpack. There was also a femur bone nearby. No flesh on any of the bones.

The skull had staples in it suggesting some type of prior head surgery.

There were sunglasses, ripped up underware and a bloody t-shirt nearby.

Staples in the skull? That's very odd. Staples wouldn't be used to close bone. Plates & screws would be. Staples are sometimes used to close skin instead of sutures in neurosurgery & would be removed shortly after surgery. (Week or so)

I wonder if someone had cancer & went off on their own post op?

 

[Beekarina]

3571DMAK - Benjamin Lopez Jr.

He might not have made it to Alaska from California

 

[Earth]

This made me think of David Parker Ray.

 

[Beekarina]

Have a few more minutes to reply. I'm a brain cancer survivor, and I'm thinking the hiker saw plates & screws. They're usually quite small, unless a person has been in a really horrible accident or required extensive reconstruction. I'm thinking that's what they saw instead of staples. Staples just don't make sense to me. I'm going to try to upload a photo of an example of some neuro plates & screws.

I'm wondering who else is missing who was known to have had brain surgery?

 

[Beekarina]

This man was last seen in Las Cruces in 2000. He also had prior brain surgery, but no clear reason for being in the mountains? Unless he liked going there & it's just not mentioned?

4479DMNM - Antonio Careena Dominguez

 

[Beekarina]

Another thought, really out there, but what if it actually was staples of the sort used on a building site? Those might penetrate your skull.....

 

[lucidtx]

I assume these are surgical staples because I don't think the ME would have mentioned head surgery otherwise.

These are skeletal remains that have been out in the open. Staples on the skull suggest a history of head surgery. Nothing says that the skull itself was stapled. It sounds like the staples were found on the skull, which would likely happen if someone with a recently stapled scalp incision died in this manner.

If they had seen evidence of significant surgery to the skull itself like a craniotomy (a hole made to relieve pressure and place drains) they'd likely mention it. I wonder if this person may have even have had something as simple as a scalp laceration injury that was stapled.

 

[Beekarina]

Did the ME mention the staples? The only mention I've seen was the hiker who discovered them, which is why I'm confused & intrigued. Thanks!

 

[lucidtx]

Did the ME mention the staples? The only mention I've seen was the hiker who discovered them, which is why I'm confused & intrigued. Thanks!

You're right, sorry, it does look like it was just the hiker mentioning them.

 

[Beekarina]

You're right, sorry, it does look like it was just the hiker mentioning them.

There's so little online about this. I was hoping you had found something new. Wondering if the backpack had enough info to ID, and they're still notifying family, etc.?

 

[lucidtx]

There's so little online about this. I was hoping you had found something new. Wondering if the backpack had enough info to ID, and they're still notifying family, etc.?

Yeah, it's only been a few days so they may already have an ID they're working on. This is also close to the border, so there's a possibility this is a migrant. In that case, even if they have valid identifying documents from the backpack, it could take them a long time to track down kin.