Coroner Provides Update on Human Remains Found in Towamencin

Keith Heffintrayer | North Penn Now•

Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Janine Darby has provided an update on the human remains that were discovered late Monday morning in a water retention basin in Towamencin Township.

Police received a call at 11:58 a.m. on March 18 from a surveyor doing contract work near the intersection of Welsh Road and Grist Mill Drive, who reported seeing what they believed to be a human skull inside the retention basin. Upon arrival, police located the skull and secured the scene, according to Towamencin Police Chief Tim Troxel.

In an interview with North Penn Now on Wednesday, Darby said her team was called to the scene after the discovery of the skull, and they were able to locate and recover additional remains from the area. Darby noted the skeletal remains were incomplete, adding that both hands, a foot, and other skeletal pieces had not been recovered.

Teeth marks from animals were found on some of the remains, and Darby added the remains had likely been in the basin between one and two years.

Due to the condition of the remains and the length of time they had been in the basin, Darby said her office is utilizing a forensic anthropologist to assist in determining the age, height, and gender of the deceased, as well as their cause and manner of death.

"Our goal is to determine who this person was, how they died, and provide some closure to their loved ones,” Darby said.

A joint investigation between Towamencin Police and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau was launched following the discovery of the remains.

"While there were no initial indications of trauma or foul play discovered at the scene of the recovery, final determinations as to the cause and manner of death, as well as identification of the remains, have yet to be made by the coroner’s office,” Troxel said.

Investigators were unable to provide an estimate regarding how long it will be until they can determine the identity and cause of death for the deceased, but Darby added her office will release that information once those determinations have been made and next of kin has been notified.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to call Towamencin Police at 215-368-7606.