Medical examiner, anthropologist to examine skeleton found Saturday

COLUMBIA — A skeleton discovered by a 13 year old on Saturday morning will be reviewed by the county medical examiner and an anthropologist in an attempt to identify the remains and determine the cause of death.

The 13 year old discovered the skeleton in a wooded area west of Roger I. Wilson Memorial Drive. A family member contacted police.

The skeleton is believed to be an adult, but further investigation will continue at the Boone County Medical Examiner's Office tomorrow.

The medical examiner will photograph the body and determine height, weight, gender and age, Chief Medical Examiner Dori Burke said. Then the remains will be turned over to anthropologist Mark Beary.

"The bulk of the work will be done by him," she said.

The cause of death is unknown, but Burke said there don't appear to be outward signs of trauma.

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