ASHLAND — Investigators are attempting to identify human remains found along Ninth Street over the weekend by matching teeth to dental records.
Jenny Taylor, investigator from the Ashland County Coroner’s Office, said Monday the remains — bones and teeth — were sent to Lucas County for an autopsy and positive ID.
Autopsy results can take months to complete and receive, but positively identifying these remains depends largely on the teeth.
“Some of the teeth were missing out of the mouth. We don’t know what happened to them. So we don’t know if the dental records will be enough,” Taylor said.
So, she said, officials are trying to match dental records with the teeth found with the remains. But they aren’t sure if there are enough teeth to be able to do that.
“We found a few teeth on the ground. I don’t know how many were missing and if we collected them all. There were leaves on the ground, so we were combing through trying to find stuff,” she said.
If teeth aren’t enough for a positive ID, investigators will depend on DNA, Taylor said. If that’s the case, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s lab in London, Ohio will analyze DNA, she said.
“And that could take some time,” she said.
When asked for further details, such as whether or not officials suspect foul play, Taylor declined, citing an ongoing investigation.
Ashland police have not released further information and were not immediately available for comment.
911 call
The remains were discovered by a man walking in the area on Sunday afternoon. He placed the call at 12:27 p.m.
“I just found a dead body,” he told the dispatcher, adding he was on the east end of Ninth Street, near the railroad spur that used to service General Latex.
The dispatcher asked if he could tell if it was a male or female.
“I can’t tell — it’s bones. I’m guessing it was a guy by the shoes that were still on,” he said.
The caller spelled his name for the dispatcher before hanging up. The call lasted one minute and 38 seconds.
Ashland Source failed in its attempt to reach the caller.
Taylor declined to describe the shoes found on the remains, citing an ongoing investigation.