Human bones found

A man hiking and taking photographs along Deer Creek off Highway 32 found a human skeleton wedged against a tree on Sunday morning.

Bader Alhebsi reported his discovery to the Tehama County Sheriff's Department, which initiated an investigation around 8:30 a.m., said sheriff's Lt. Dave Greer.

"The skeleton may have been moved a short distance by high waters in the creek bed to where it was located," Greer said. "It had some tissue still on the bones, and some clothing such as a pair of blue jeans and men's type shoes."

Due to the condition of the remains, authorities were unable to officially determine the sex, age or preliminary cause of death.

"Because of the clothing and size of the skeleton, we think it may be an adult male, but we won't know for sure until further into the investigation," Greer said.

The skeletal remains are being sent to the California State University, Chico, Anthropology Department for forensic analysis.

"The anthropology department should be able to tell us the gender, age, race, approximate time of death, and possibly the cause of death," Greer said.

"We are hopeful with the univers ty's information we will be able determine the person's identity as well, and to receive that information soon."

Greer said the case is "definitely being investigated as suspicious in nature," due to some specific conditions of the human remains, which do not appear to be those of a lost hiker or hunter.

"The skeleton was discovered close to the highway, so we don't suspect the person was lost," he said.

Greer said more information will become available as the investigation continues.