Officials still working to ID remains

The serial number lifted from a metal rod surgically implanted in a leg bone found six weeks ago in the Santa Clara River wash is now being reviewed by the rod’s manufacturer in Michigan, a lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Department said.

The bone was among remains found shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 31 during one of the city of Santa Clarita’s regular cleanup operations in the riverbed.

Six months after the discovery, investigators are still trying to identify the remains of “Doe Number 8,” Lt. David Smith told The Signal Thursday.

“We still don’t know if it’s male or female,” Smith said. “We have DNA tests submitted but no results as yet.”

Coroner investigators were able to identify the company that manufactured the rod found in the remains, he said.

“We did find a rod. We’ve taken that rod, obtained a serial number, identified the manufacturer and sent a fax (message) to the company who sold it,” Smith said, noting the company is based in Michigan. “As of yet, there’s been no response.”

When the remains were found, detectives with the Homicide Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were sent to the scene, about a halfmile southwest of the In- N-Out on Bouquet Canyon Road.

“We’re still working that case,” Homicide Bureau Det. Steve Jauch told The Signal Thursday.

A month ago, Jauch expressed optimism that discovery of the surgical implant would shed light on the deceased person’s identity.

“There was some indication that the victim may have suffered a leg injury,” he said Sept. 8. “They may have had a limp due to a rod found in one of the legs.”

Homicide detectives were revisiting Sheriff’s Department missing person reports.