Skeleton partially identified

ADAMS COUNTY — The skeletal remains discovered in a shallow grave in late May near Othello are partially identified.

Forensic testing revealed the remains belong to a Hispanic male between the ages of 18 and 25 years old, Adams County Sheriff Doug Barger said.

The department feels confident the man's identity will be revealed soon pending dental record examination, he said.

Barger did not release any further information about the case.

Additional tests are being conducted to determine how the man died.

The body was discovered by an orchard worker who was working on an irrigation system at the Saddle Mountain Orchard on state Route 24, May 28. The orchard worker discovered a partially exposed skull, Barger said.

The Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory sent personnel from Cheney to unearth the remains. The skeleton was sent to a forensic anthropologist for identification purposes.

Upon discovery, detectives notified local law enforcement agencies of the findings to use toward missing persons cases, he said.

Nearly one year ago a child's skull was located in Adams County about 35 miles away from the site of the recent discovery. Information on the skull remains unknown. Barger said there is not a connection between the two cases.