The skeletal remains found in the woods near Carrsville have been determined to be that of a human female based on the size of the skull and bones, said Lt. Tommy Potter, investigator with the Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Department. Nothing at this time could suggest that there was any foul play, he added.

“There does not appear to be any sign of trauma,” Potter said. “At this point, it does not appear this is a homicide investigation.”

On Friday, deputies were alerted to the skeleton by a group of hunters, who were preparing to take down a tree stand and came across it.

Potter said the investigation is very preliminary. Medical examiner personnel have not had an opportunity to look at the bones back at their lab, where more could be determined in regards to trauma.

“This is based on the examination in the field at this time,” he said. “This will go back the medical examiner’s office and the bones will be cleaned and examined.”

During the excavation, they were able to find enough of the victim’s intact teeth to potentially identify her through dental records.

“You can see where the teeth have had some work done, so that will help,” Potter said. “That’s the easiest way to identify someone.”

They were also able to locate portions of the pelvis and other bones that can help later determine the age of the victim at the time of death.

The medical examiner present was able to determine that the remains had been there for at least two years based on the field examination, the lieutenant added.

Members of the sheriff’s office, along with Elayne Pope, forensics anthropologist with the Virginia’s Medical Examiner’s Office, met at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department and fanned out to the woods near Harvest Drive’s intersection with Glen Haven Drive.

They sifted through the leaves to find bones and bone fragments, which were flagged, photographed, marked and transported back to the Tidewater region’s Medical Examiner’s Office in Chesapeake.

From this point, the teeth will be used in an attempt to identify the victim if dental records can be found. If DNA has to be used to make an identification, it could take longer as DNA samples have to be examined with samples from missing persons or other open cases from the time period.

On the sheriff’s office end, investigators will go back and talk with families that have reported missing persons in the Carrsville and southern Isle of Wight area over the past several years, Potter said.

More details will be released as they become available.