Mystery Deepens Around Human Bones Found In Linden Attic After Man's Death

LINDEN (CBS13) — Human bones found inside a Linden attic after the homeowner's death have sparked a mystery as to how they got there.

Doug Mapes died outside his Linden home in December. His stepson, Kenny Cunigan, went up to the attic to help his mother clean out Mapes' belongings when they made a disturbing discovery in a box.

"It was very obviously a human skull," he said.

At his request, CBS13 met Cunigan at a Linden grocery store where he told his story. He says he found the bones, but didn't call authorities. He says he didn't think the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office properly investigated his grandfather's death. He suspected foul play, but the sheriff did not.

Cunigan says a friend took the skull home to Modesto.

On April 27, Modesto Police found the skull during an unrelated investigation and turned it over to the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives says a Cal State Stanislaus anthropologist confirmed the remains are human, prompting an investigation.

Meanwhile, victim advocate and former law enforcement employee Frank Gaylado was doing his own investigation of the case. Then he got a tip.

"I received a phone call from several sources I have in the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office," he said.

Gaylado obtained a video taken by a person with Cunigan in the attic. He says the human skull wasn't the only bone found.

"Apparently, at one point there was an umbrella made with a human arm bone," he said.

Cunigan turned over the few bones he had in his possession. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office says it found some evidence inside the house, but didn't locate all the bones Gaylado claims to have seen.

Cunigan says the remote and disrepaired place used to be his home. He hopes investigators will solve the mystery of whose bones were in the box.