Bones found in SC woods and brought to Goodwill identified as human. Mystery lingers
Bones found in the South Carolina woods and brought to a Goodwill have been identified as human.
The bones sat in a cardboard box at the donation store’s drop off center and then were reported to police. A search of the woods led to more human remains, but the person’s identity remains a mystery, according to the Anderson County coroner’s office and the Anderson Police Department.
The initial discovery was made when a person walking in the woods stumbled upon skeletal remains. It happened in “an area under development in the Graylyn subdivision,” the coroner’s office wrote in a news release.
The person brought the remains to a Goodwill and reported the finding to police. An officer responded June 22 and was given a box with seven bones inside, according to an incident report.
“All of the bones were different shapes and sizes, and some were consistent with that of human bones,” officers wrote, adding that two of the bones likely came from animals.
Police notified the coroner’s office, and investigators began searching the woods. Crews reported finding “several more bones and items that will assist in the investigation.”
“The skeletal remains appear to have been in the area for a long period of time and were scattered across a large area,” the office wrote. “The identity of the skeletal remains have not been identified and will require further investigation to include DNA analysis which could take several months and the assistance of an anthropologist.”
The person is believed to have died at least two years ago. The coroner’s office made a list of people who were reported missing so it can reach out to relatives for DNA samples, WYFF reported.
“We have some missing people from Anderson County as well as Anderson city,” Deputy Coroner Ty Blackwell told the TV station. “Family members are wanting to come forward to be able to see if they can assist in any kind of way.”
An investigation continues, and anyone with information is asked to contact the coroner’s office at 864-260-4057.
Anderson is a roughly 30-mile drive southwest from Greenville.
This story was originally published June 25, 2024 at 9:37 AM with the headline "Bones found in SC woods and brought to Goodwill identified as human. Mystery lingers."
