Additional details emerge on uncovered skeletal remains
Police are handling investigation as a homicide

The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office earlier this week released a preliminary report on the human skeletal remains found in the hills southwest of Los Angeles Avenue in Somis on March 13.

The bones were discovered in an area previously known as the Queen Ranch.

According to police reports, the remains were found as ranch workers were cleaning an illegal dump on the ridge overlooking Camarillo.

When the workers pulled an old carpet out of the ravine, they found a human arm bone attached to the carpet. A human skull was soon found, prompting patrol deputies to secure the secluded dumpsite.

The remains were excavated on March 14 with assistance from the FBI Evidence Recovery Unit and transported to the Medical Examiner's Office.

According to the coroner, the remains are probably those of an adult male between 21 and 50 years of age at the time of death.

The man was between 5-foot 3-inches and 5-foot 7-inches tall and of mixed racial ancestry, consistent with being Hispanic.

The teeth are in excellent condition and have no evidence of dental work or cavities.

The victim was found wearing only brown pants labeled with a tag indicating a 32-inch waist, which suggests the subject had a slim build.

Several U.S. coins were found in the pockets, the most recent dated 1984. Also found in the pocket were a comb and a house key attached to a "heads or tails" coin.

The condition of the pocket items, body and scene suggest that the body could have been there for many years, perhaps since the mid-1980s.

The medical examiner has not issued the cause of death at this time. The circumstances of the death are suspicious, however, and suggest that this may have been a homicide.

Anyone with information that may help identify this person is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at (805) 477-7000 or the Medical-Examiner's Office at (805) 641-4400.