TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

ID For Bones Found In Jeep Could Take Months

ADVERTISEMENT

By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 16, 2007

LAKELAND - Investigators say it could take months to identify bones found Friday inside a submerged vehicle belonging to a woman reported missing in 2005.

Although detectives have not ruled out foul play, they have seen no indication that the person found in the vehicle was murdered, said W.J. Martin, the sheriff's office chief of investigation.

Yascara Yturralde

The 1996 Jeep Cherokee was spotted by the Polk County Sheriff's Office dive team during a training exercise and cleanup effort at a lake in Saddle Creek Park. Human bones were found inside, the sheriff's office said.

The Cherokee belonged to Yascara Yturralde of Winter Haven, who was 36 when she was reported missing Oct. 10, 2005, the sheriff's office said. Yturralde's relatives have been notified of the discovery of her vehicle.

Detectives are not releasing Yturralde's missing person report, saying her disappearance remains an open investigation.

The bones have been turned over to the medical examiner's office, Martin said. They will eventually be identified using DNA samples.

The Cherokee is being stored at the sheriff's office crime scene office. Martin said it was full of mud and muck, and detectives are allowing it to dry out before further processing it.

Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at (863) 284-1409 or wtownsend@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT