Human bones found in Livingston

• By BOB ANDERSON
• Advocate Florida parishes bureau
• Published: Nov 5, 2009 - Page: 4B

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

LIVINGSTON — Authorities asked for help Wednesday in identifying human bones found scattered in a wooded area in French Settlement.

The bones appear to be those of a white man of medium height between the ages of 38 and 48, said Jason Ard, chief criminal deputy for the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“We will treat it like a homicide until we get more information,” Ard said.

Investigators found a car key, but no wallet at the scene, said Perry Rushing, chief of operations for the Sheriff’s Office.

French Settlement Police Chief Harry Brignac said men looking for a place to hunt deer found a large bone Saturday afternoon near La. 42 just east of La. 16 and reported it to his office. The discovery led to finding more bones in a wooded area within the municipal limits. The nearest house is about 150 yards away, Brignac said.

Time of death is thought to be from six to 18 months ago, said Stan Carpenter, chief of detectives for the Sheriff’s Office.

LSU forensic anthropologist Mary Manhien determined that the person had previous injuries to the ribs, right side of the face and left leg and ankle, Carptenter said, adding that those injuries had healed.

About 98 percent of the bones have been found scattered over a 50-yard radius and have been pieced together by Manhien and an assistant, Ard said. The scattering of the bones could have been done by animals after the man died, he said.

Investigators found a pair of cargo shorts, a Columbia brand shirt and a pair of black Sketcher low quarter shoes, size 9‰. The pants and shirt were too faded to determine the original color, Ard said.

Investigators also found a Chrysler Corp. key chain, a Chrysler key and a black medication storage vial, he said.

Ard said the information does not fit with that of any person reported missing in Livingston Parish, and deputies are seeking information on other missing people. He asked anyone with information to call telephone extension 345 of the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office at (225) 686-2241.