Human skull found in backpack along Interstate 5

By Kristian Foden-Vencil (OPB)
Nov. 25, 2022 9:06 p.m.

The Oregon medical examiner is working to determine the origin of a human skull found in a backpack along Interstate 5.

An Oregon Department of Corrections clean-up crew found the backpack at about 9 a.m. on Monday morning. It was on the northbound side of the interstate in Salem, close to milepost 260.

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Inside the backpack was a human skull, most likely from a woman in her late 30s to 40s. Police say so far they haven’t been able to identify it.

The skull has been transported to the state medical examiner’s office. Staff there will work to figure out where it came from. Scientists there can perform tests like dental records checks and DNA comparisons to help identify the individual.

Police say at this time, no further information is available.

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