Two human skulls discovered in Gifford Pinchot National Forest within a month

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Just one month after a human skull was discovered in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, a second skull has been found in the region.

On Sept. 4, a bear hunter reported to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office that he had found a skull near the Sawtooth Berry Fields within the forest.

County detectives later recovered the skull, which they determined to be human.

“Identity of the remains is unknown and the case is under active investigation at this time,” according to the sheriff’s office. “The skull will be sent for forensic analysis in an attempt to make positive identification. There are no indicators to believe there is a public safety risk based on the circumstances of the discovery.”

The discovery came one month after another human skull had been spotted by a hiker in Big Lava Bed on Aug. 10.

Investigators said they believe the remains likely belonged to a hiker that has been missing since 2013. According to SCSO, the hiker was last seen in the Big Lava Beds area and unable to be located despite “numerous coordinated search efforts.”

The Sheriff’s Office transported the skull, and other remains found nearby, to the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing.