Anthropologists Looking For Bones At O.C. House After Tip Of Body Buried In 1980s

ORANGE COUNTY, CA – A team of anthropologists from the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner's Office was sifting through dirt in the backyard of a Santa Ana home today, looking for clues to a report of a buried body three decades ago.

A portion of the cement slab in the backyard of the home in the 600 block of South Center Street has been removed, allowing more access to the experts as they investigate the site, where one resident told police bones were found about a decade ago, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

"Their plan is to sift through layer by layer looking for possible bones or evidence," Bertagna said.

A woman and man living in the home have said "they feel the presence of a ghost there," Bertagna said.

One man who lives in the house said he "felt the ghost sitting on (his) chest when (he's) sleeping," Bertagna said.

Authorities received a tip Wednesday night that a human body had been buried in the backyard of the home in the 1980s, according to Bertagna.

When investigators went to the house, the owner — who has lived there about 16 years — said he anticipated a visit from detectives someday because workers a decade earlier had found two bones on his property, Bertagna said. The homeowner did not explain why he didn't alert authorities right away.

"He said he hired some guys to clear out the yard, and they found two bones and a knife, and the bones appeared to be possibly human," Bertagna said. "They discarded the bones, and the workers showed (the property owner) where they found the bones, and then they filled in the yard with 6 inches of cement."

Based on the tip and the discussion with the homeowner, police brought in a cadaver dog, which indicated there may be human remains at a spot where the resident said the bones were found, Bertagna said.

• Also see: Homicide Investigators, Family Desperately Seek Leads Into Covina Woman's Disappearance

— By City News Service/Morguefile image