PALA : Human Remains Discovered in Grave

Anthropologists and deputies from the county medical examiner’s office are working to identify human bones found Sunday in a shallow grave off California 76, east of the Pala Indian Reservation.

Hikers found the body, identified only as that of an adult, when they took a shortcut back to their car about 6 p.m. Sunday, Sheriff’s Sgt. Manny Castillo said.

They were hiking south of California 76, about 4 miles east of the reservation and 9 miles east of Interstate 15. They found the body partly buried, Castillo said.

The remains consist of a complete skeleton and some mummified tissue, Castillo said. The body’s race, sex and cause of death were not known, Castillo said.