A rock hunter discovered a human skull Sunday inside a cave near Needles Peak in southern Carbon County, touching off a mystery and a law enforcement investigation.
Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken said in a statement Monday that deputies were led by the rockhound to a small cave where the skull was located.
“The skull was largely intact and positively identified as human,” Bakken said, adding that personnel from the Carbon County Coroner's Office also responded.
No other remains or items related to the skull were found in the cave or surrounding area.
The skull appears to be 40 to 50 years old or older, possibly dating back as far as the 1800s, the sheriff's office reports.
Bakken could not be reached for further comment Monday about whether the skull appeared to be that of a man or woman.
The skull has been turned over to the Carbon County Coroner’s Office, which plans to consult with anthropological experts. The office did not return a phone message.
Missing Persons
Skulls, such as the one discovered Sunday, often appear older than they actually are due to being exposed to the elements, said Desiree Tinoco, executive director of the Missing People of Wyoming, a Casper nonprofit organization she founded in 2022.
Small counties like Carbon County often don’t have the resources to identify remains and turn cases over to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Tinoco said.
The remains may not necessarily be that of someone from Wyoming and could be from anywhere in the United States, she added.
As of Monday, there were 95 active missing cases in Wyoming, with the oldest dating to 1934 when 21-year-old Olga Mauger was last seen near Dubois carrying a bag of sandwiches, $30 in cash and a hand ax, Tinoco said.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation's missing persons database shows six from Carbon County:
• 19-year-old Carlene Brown who was last seen on July 4, 1974, at the Little Britches Rodeo in Rawlins.
• 15-year-old Deborah Rae Meyer, who disappeared Aug. 4, 1974, after leaving a relative’s home in Rawlins.
• John Michel Boutin, 24, who was last seen Jan. 13, 1983, in Rawlins. He's suspected to be a victim of homicide.
• 20-year-old Rocky Najera, who disappeared Christmas Day 1985.
• 72-year-old Charles Gustafson, was last seen Oct. 11, 2006, while hunting in Carbon County.
• 66-year-old Kris Mortensen Ziegler. Further information about his July 18, 2021, disappearance was not available.
Tinoco, who was instrumental in passing a law that went into effect in July requiring protocols for Wyoming law enforcement in reporting missing adults, said when unidentified remains are found, it can put family members of those who have disappeared on edge.
While the positive identification of remains can provide some closure, it also dashes the hopes of those who long believe their missing relatives may still be alive.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” said Tinoco, who founded Missing People of Wyoming to give a voice to victims and families. "You get some answers, but you may get more questions than answers.”
Scott Schwebke can be reached at scott@cowboystatedaily.com.
