Authorities in New Mexico say they found at least 10 human skulls in and around a property near the southeastern border, which may also include the remains of a woman who has been missing since 2019.
Investigators found the remains in Water City while executing a search warrant for Cecil Villanueva, a man flagged to law enforcement by a local resident. According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the resident said he offered Villanueva a ride in his car and had a “volatile encounter.” Said,
The resident, who authorities have not named, reported the interaction on Nov. 5. She said Villanueva was carrying two bags and made “shocking statements” as he “threw objects from the vehicle, some of which appeared to be human bones.” the sheriff's office said. Investigators found bone fragments during a subsequent search of the area, and a pathologist later confirmed that they were indeed human bones. According to the sheriff, forensic experts determined that the findings included parts of a human skull and jawbone.
There was evidence of 10 to 20 human skull remains at a property in the water where Villanueva was living, which was “connected to rumors of human remains,” the sheriff said. A team of investigators and a forensic anthropologist turned the remains over to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Albuquerque. The medical investigator will analyze them and potentially identify them.
Law enforcement has released few details about the case so far, but they said it is being “closely linked” to the disappearance of a woman named Angela McMains, who went missing in 2019 and is now under investigation. Lived near the property under.
“Authorities are working diligently to determine the connection between the remains and those of McManus, as well as other possible victims,” the sheriff's office said.
Authorities have not said whether Villanueva has been arrested in this case. CBS News affiliate apparently claims he bought skulls online treasury Information was given on Tuesday. At the time, Lee County Undersheriff Michael Walker reported that station officers were still working to determine whether the skulls they found were genuine human skulls.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff's Office or the county's local Crime Stoppers line. CBS News contacted the Sheriff's Office for more information but did not immediately hear back.