Autopsy to examine bones, tissue of remains found in North Union
Mark Hofmann | 无毛视频-Standard
Skeletal remains discovered in North Union Township this week are now under the jurisdiction of the Fayette County coroner, with an autopsy scheduled for Friday.
Coroner Bob Baker said a team of forensic anthropologists was able to find a fairly complete skeleton that also had some tissue intact.
“They did it almost like an archeological dig,” Baker said Thursday.
He said one of the team members told him the soil in southwestern Pennsylvania is clay-based, which can help preserve remains and protect them from the elements.
Baker said his office received the remains around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday following a day-long search conducted under the direction of Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat, head of the forensic anthropology department at Mercyhurst University in Erie. About 20 others were on the team that worked to excavate the bones.
Baker said forensic pathologist Dr. Jennifer Hammers will test the bones and preserved tissues for the purposes of identifying the remains and determining the cause of death.
Once an identification has been confirmed, the coroner’s office will release that information after the person’s family is notified.
Uniontown City Police and Pennsylvania State Police discovered the remains near a house in the area of Washington Avenue and Hogsett Lane Tuesday afternoon, after receiving information about a missing person.
Two people who live close to that area said the house has been abandoned for several years.