Human remains dug up
Cops won't discuss details

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

An anthropoligist excuvates a crime scene Thursday as Gallup Police officials watch and document the work. The execuvation took place between two mesas in Sunshine Canyon. Later in the day, police officials announced human remains were found but did not release the supposed victim's name or many other details. [Photo by Jeremy Schneider/Independent]

GALLUP — Albuquerque anthropologists recovered human remains from a ditch between two mesas in Sunshine Canyon on Thursday, a Gallup Police Department spokesman said.

Capt. John Allen spoke for the first time on Thursday afternoon about the search that spanned nearly 10 days. Allen said officials declined comment regarding the search to preserve the department's case and that he would provide no details as to the identity of the individual or the circumstances that led to the search. He would not indicate whether the family members of the deceased individual had been notified.

"We're going to treat it as a John Doe at this time," he said. "We don't want to alert anyone that we may be looking for them."

About six anthropologists from the Office of the Medical Examiner in Albuquerque lined the bottom of the ditch on Thursday beginning at about 9 a.m. and sifted through mounds of dirt in search of additional evidence. GPD officials, equipped with electronic recording devices, documented the excavation.

Allen said Gallup investigators are still leading the search and the anthropologists were brought to the area for additional assistance.

"Obviously, you can see this is going to be a long process," Allen said. "... We had enough evidence to warrant this excavation."

Credible tips that officials obtained over a significant amount of time led officials to dig for the body.

Allen said Police Chief Sylvester Stanley said not to release details of the case to the media until officials meet on Friday with District Attorney Karl Gillson concerning the discovery.

He said to expect details following the meeting. As of Thursday at 4:30 p.m., Allen said the digging had stopped and the search was complete.

The site of the dig is about three-quarters of a mile from the nearest roadway, Cliff Drive, which is the location of a northside government housing unit and Lion's Park.