Skeleton found in shallow grave near Othello

Remains sent to forensic anthropologist

ADAMS COUNTY — An entire human skeleton was found in a shallow grave Monday morning in Adams County, approximately 15 miles from Othello.

An orchard worker who was working on an irrigation system reported the discovery of a partially exposed skull at the Saddle Mountain Orchard on West Highway 24, Adams County Sheriff Doug Barger said.

The Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory from Cheney was called to the scene to unearth the remainder of the body.

The intact remains will be sent to a forensic anthropologist this week to determine the identity, age, sex and ethnicity of the skeleton, he reported. The examination will reveal how long the body was buried.

Basic preliminary results are expected to be released near the end of the week, he added.

Detectives are notifying local law enforcement agencies of the findings for missing persons cases, Barger noted.

The cause of death is unknown, 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 no connection between the two cases.