http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/201.../100113028/1060Facial reconstruction may help ID skull
By John Andrew Prime • jprime@gannett.com • January 13, 2010
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Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Thanks to the state's acclaimed FACES forensics laboratory, Caddo sheriff's detectives now have a face to go on a mysterious skull found by a hunter in the north part of the parish five years ago.
Experts have completed the facial reconstruction of the human skull discovered on property on state Highway 169 west of state Highway 1that once was a parish landfill. The skull was discovered in the grass on Oct. 25, 2005.
Sheriff Steve Prator said detectives were unable to link the skull to any area missing persons cases and now are checking national databases. While foul play isn't suspected, detectives would like to put a name with the face to officially close the case.
Mary H. Manhein, director and forensic anthropologist at the LSU Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services, or FACES, Laboratory in Baton Rouge, completed the reconstruction, along with her team. They believe the skull is probably that of a white male between ages 20 and 33, with the color or "bleaching" of the skull suggesting it had been in the sun anywhere from two to 10 years.
At the time of the discovery, a team of professors from the LSU Agriculture Center concluded the skull had been at that specific location around seven to 10 days but no more than two weeks. The conclusion was based on the condition of surrounding vegetation. A cadaver dog searched the area for more remains, but none were found.
"We weren't able to determine the age of the skull," Prator said. "It could be a donation to science that dates back generations. We just want to make sure we've done all we can to identify him before we close the books."
People with information should call Detective Michael Escude' at (318) 681-0700.
