Human bones found in old Ore. lodge closet

SCIO, Ore. (AP) — A teenager in the Willamette Valley town of Scio, Ore., was helping clean out closets in an old lodge when she found a black box full of human bones.

KATU-TV (http://bit.ly/qlRhxD) reports that Jennifer Minten was tidying the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge.

The Linn County sheriff says the bones could be anywhere from 50 to 150 years old, although he doesn’t think the small box is the original casket. Sheriff Tim Mueller says the bones appear to be those of a fairly tall, muscular, adult man.

He says the box has water damage from the Columbus Day storm of 1962, so it’s at least that old.

Mueller says the fraternal organization kept good records, so that may help investigators identify the bones. The medical examiner will also use dental records in an effort to ID the person. The sheriff says he doesn’t think foul play was involved.

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Information from: KATU-TV, http://www.katu.com/