(Credit: Brian Hadka)
A forensic anthropologist working to determine the identity of the human remains found in Towamencin last week has found clues establishing the height and gender of the deceased, according to a report by Briana Smith at 6ABC.
Citing information provided by forensic anthropologist Anna Delaney on Wednesday, the report states the remains have been partially identified as a male, at least 40 years old and 5’6” tall, with previously healed trauma to his rib cage.
"Whether there was an accident or they fell, there could be a lot of things that could explain that trauma, but that is also something we can use to identify that individual," said Delaney, in the 6ABC report.
The remains were found just before noon on March 18, after a surveyor doing contract work near the intersection of Welsh Road and Grist Mill Drive reported seeing what they believed to be a human skull inside the retention basin. Upon arrival, police located the skull and secured the scene, according to Towamencin Police Chief Tim Troxel.
In an interview with North Penn Now on last week, Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Janine Darby said her team was called to the scene after the discovery of the skull, and they were able to locate and recover additional remains from the area. Darby noted the skeletal remains were incomplete, adding that both hands, a foot, and other skeletal pieces had not been recovered.
Teeth marks from animals were found on some of the remains, and Darby added the remains had likely been in the basin between one and two years.
"Our goal is to determine who this person was, how they died, and provide some closure to their loved ones,” Darby said.
A joint investigation between Towamencin Police and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau was launched following the discovery of the remains.
"While there were no initial indications of trauma or foul play discovered at the scene of the recovery, final determinations as to the cause and manner of death, as well as identification of the remains, have yet to be made by the coroner’s office,” Troxel said.
According to the 6ABC report, the next step will be to upload Delaney’s report into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in the hopes of finding a match.
Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to call Towamencin Police at 215-368-7606.
