At least ten human skulls have been discovered in a home near Jal, N.M., with one possibly belonging to a woman who has been missing since 2019.
The Lea County Sheriff’s Office was first notified on November 5 when an investigator received information that a Jal resident had a “unsettling encounter” with someone they gave a ride to.
The passenger, identified as 28-year-old Cecil Villanueva, was reportedly “carrying two bags” and then “made alarming statements and discarded objects from the vehicle, some of which appeared to be human bones,” according to a press release shared on the department’s Facebook page on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Officers investigated the scene where the motorist reported the incident and discovered “bone fragments” near a convenience store. A pathologist concluded that the remains were human.
Investigators said Villanueva’s home on South 4th Street had been “associated with rumors of human remains” and returned to the property with a search warrant on Nov. 6, where “additional bone fragments, including portions of a skull and jawbone” were discovered.
Following the discovery, a team returned to perform a more “comprehensive search” on November 9.
At that time, teams found “evidence of 10-20 human skulls.” The remains were taken to the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque for further examination and possible identification.
Villanueva apparently informed detectives that he purchased the remains online and has yet to face any charges.
According to the Lea County Sheriff’s Office, the case has now been linked to Angela McManes’ disappearance in 2019, when she lived near the South 4th Street property.
Kris Kelton, McManes’ sister, told KOB 4 in an article last updated on Wednesday, Nov. 13, about the fresh information about her sister’s disappearance.
However, Kelton stated that the family does not have any fresh information and is currently as informed as the general public.
“No, just because it is still pending. Yes, I believe it is achievable when you consider it through. But, you know, we don’t want to draw any conclusions until we know the ultimate result,” Kelton told the television channel. “All we know is pretty much what’s been released through social media.”
She added that McManes had not been seen or heard from in five years and had departed without her spectacles, diabetic medication, or money.
Kelton stated that her sister was a mother of three and would never willingly leave her children behind.
“If it came to her children, she would defend them right or wrong, and then deal with the wrong or right. She was an excellent mom. She adored her children more than I can tell you. “I know everyone loves their children, but that was one of our indicators that something was wrong because she would not have abandoned her children,” Kelton told the outlet.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Lea County Sheriff’s Office at 575-396-3611 or Crimestoppers at 575-393-8005.