Special to The Tribune
JEFFERSON COUNTY — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the discovery of human remains near a vacant home in the Booker Heights Community in western Jefferson County when a hunter happened upon the remains on Jan. 30.
Sheriff’s deputies say a man was squirrel hunting in the area and discovered what he believed to be human skeletal remains. Upon finding the remains he returned home and notified the sheriff’s office.
On Monday, deputies and members of a Forensic Recovery Team from the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office recovered the remains and processed the scene for evidence. The remains were delivered to the coroner’s office for medical examination, identification, and a determination of the cause of death.
Detectives have learned that the remains are those of an 18 to 28-year-old male victim. The race of the victim has not yet been determined. It is believed the body was at the location where found for several months. The cause of death is being withheld and this case is now being investigated as a homicide.
Detectives are reviewing missing person cases from the area in attempt to aid in the identification of the victim.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 205-325-1450 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.