Bone fragment found in backyard of Garrido's neighbor is likely human
 

From the BNO Newsroom.

ANTIOCH, California (BNO NEWS) --  The bone fragment found in the backyard of Phillip Garrido's neighbor is likely human, a police spokesman said on Tuesday. Phillip Garrido and his wife are both suspected of the kidnapping of 11-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard in 1991, before she was freed more than 18 years later.

Officials had earlier said they had found a bone fragment on the property of Garrido's neighbor, but were not immediately able to say if it was human or animal. Police began searching the property of his neighbor because Phillip once lived on the property when he worked as a caretaker for the previous owner. They were also looking for possible links between Garrido and a series of unsolved prostitute murders in the 1990s, but officials later said they had found no evidence of a connection.

"The expert has determined that the bone fragment found in the backyard of Garrido's neighbor is probably human," said Jimmy Lee, a spokesman for the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department. "We will be requesting the state to see if it can develop a DNA profile on the fragment."

While it is not yet clear who the bone fragment belongs to, or how old it is, Lee said it is not uncommon to find Native American remains in Contra Costa County.

In other related developments, Lee said at least three trespass incidents have been reported at Garrido's residence, which made world headlines last month after the unexpected return of Jaycee Lee Dugard. According to preliminary findings, Dugard was held in Garrido's backyard as a sex slave for more than 18 years. Phillip also fathered two daughters with the kidnapped girl.

The first trespass incident was reported on September 1st, while two others were reported on September 6. "Looks like they mostly involved younger people, including some teens," Lee said. Neighbors chased them off the property and fled before deputies arrived on the scene. Lee added that anyone who enters the property will be arrested.

Follow us:
   
Or sign up for breaking news e-mail alerts by clicking here.

 ###