Possible human remains found

BAYVIEW - A hiker in the Bayview area found what appear to be human bones on Wednesday afternoon, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office reports.

The KCSO received a call around 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday from the hiker who reported that he came across what appear to be human bones.

"Deputies responded to the remote forested area off Cape Horn Road and hiked into the area where they found several bones that appear to be human remains," a KCSO press release states.

KCSO Lt. Stu Miller said the man was on a hike with his dog when he came across the bones.

"If there's no flesh and muscle left with the bones, they've been there a while," Miller said.

Miller said he didn't know the type of bones that were found or if they appeared to be of an adult or youth. He said the bones are expected to be sent to a forensic pathologist's lab to confirm if they are human bones, if they are from a male or female and to estimate their age.

Detectives responded to the scene after deputies said the bones indeed appeared to be human, but due to darkness, further investigation was suspended until Thursday morning. A deputy was posted at the scene overnight.

"Detectives are just beginning the investigation," Miller said late Thursday morning.

Deputies closed the intersection of Waller and Cherokee on Thursday during the investigation. Miller said he believes the bones were found in steep terrain in the woods in an area north of Cape Horn Road.

Miller said he wasn't aware of any other evidence found near the bones.

No further information was available on Thursday.