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Identifying Bones Found In Jeep Could Take Months

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By BILLY TOWNSEND, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 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 the person found in the vehicle was murdered, said W.J. Martin, the sheriff's office chief of investigation.

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 Jeep belonged to Yascara Yturralde of Winter Haven, who was 36 when she was reported missing Oct. 10, 2005, the sheriff's office said.

Two days later, a warrant was issued for Yturralde's arrest on a charge of felony assault with a deadly weapon, according to a sheriff's office warrants search.

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. Investigators will use DNA samples to try to identify them.

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

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