MADERA COUNTY — Sheriff’s Office investigators are waiting on a report to identify human bones found in the Mammoth Pool area last week.
On Tuesday, July 18, a tip came in to the Sheriff’s Office, and investigators along with Search & Rescue, responded to a location on Powerhouse No. 8 Road.
There they located what were described as “skeletonized remains.”
“We don’t really know how long the bones have been there,” says Commander Bill Ward, who tells us that they are waiting for the results of the coroner’s report. How long that will take depends on several factors, and isn’t known at this time, nor is the cause of death.
The family of Keith Bendz, a Coarsegold man who went missing on Apr. 25, has notified SNO that Keith’s truck was found near the location of the remains, and that there were personal items at the scene. The family made the announcement to their church family on Sunday that Keith has been found.
Ward says his office cannot confirm the identity at this time, as they are awaiting official confirmation.
