There's something haunting about cold cases that go unsolved for years, even decades.

The Polk County, OR Sheriff's office and the Oregon State Medical Examiner are seeking any and all possible leads to help solve the mystery of the skeletal remains found 18 years ago in the hills of a rural area in Polk County.

Polk County is situated West of Lincoln City, OR.    September 1st, 1996, the skeletal remains of a female were found in the hills overlooking the Mill Creek area.   Authorities said evidence at the scene led them to believe the body may have been there anywhere from a few months to a year, making the actual disappearance between fall of 1995 and summer of 1996.

Authorities did not specifically say why they have re-opened the case.

That suspicious evidence also prompted Polk County officials to classify it as a homicide.  But over the years, exhaustive searches of missing person reports all over Oregon turned up nothing, they now believe the person could be from out of state.

Authorities say the skeleton is that of a female, 45 years or older at time of death.  She was between 5' and 5'6" tall, slight curvature of the spine.  She had also had a sinus related surgery due to a crescent-shaped surgical incision in the forehead area.  It may have left a visible scar.  The person also likely had an upper denture, and likely black or gray hair.

The case is being handled as well by the National Unidentified Persons Database.   Anyone with any potential information is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff at 503-623-1878.  Below is a photo of the skull found at scene  from the NAMUS database website.

Oregon cold case reopened.
Oregon cold case reopened. (identifyus.org)
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