Investigators Return to Logging Site to Search For More Human Remains

The Lincoln City Sheriff’s office says a skull found by loggers could be connected to one of 70 missing persons cases.

1726 is a logging road near Devils Lake in Lincoln City Image courtesy: Google maps

(LINCOLN CITY) - Investigators this weekend began combing through a logging site searching for more human remains or clues as to the identity of a skull found by loggers working on Forest Service Road 1726 off east Devils Lake Road, just outside Lincoln City over a week ago.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s office spokesman Lt. Curtis Landers says investigators have not ruled out the possibility that the remains belong to missing BYU student Brooke Wilberger.

However, and more importantly, Landers said the remains could be those of one of the county’s 70 missing persons cases.

“We don’t have a sex or age, we just don’t know who it is” Landers said.

Investigators believe the skull has been there for about two years.

Loggers worked this week to remove large logs from the logging site were the skull was found.

No clothing or any other signs that the skull belonged to Wilberger have been found.

The skull is scheduled to go to the State Medical Examiners office this week.

Wilberger, disappeared from Corvallis in May of 2004 and despite a massive search, was never found.

Joel Patrick Courtney, from New Mexico has been charged with Wilberger’s murder.

What is raising the media’s suspicion that the remains could be those of Wilberger is the fact that Courtney, was scheduled to be in a Newport courtroom to face a drunk driving charge the day Wilberger disappeared.

Courtney called the court clerk and told her that he could not make his court appearance because he was in Corvallis.