LANCASTER, S.C.,None — Investigators are waiting on results from an examination of human remains discovered by a dog in Lancaster.
The dog's owner said the animal broke free and returned home with a human skull. The man did not want to be identified, but he said he found the skull in his yard Tuesday morning.
"At first, I thought it was one of those plastic Halloween skulls. You know how dogs bring stuff in the yard," he said. "I looked at it and I moved it with my foot, and I about had a heart attack."
The man called 911 and special search teams canvassed the area. Within five hours, the rest of the human remains were found in the woods nearby.
Deputies have not confirmed the identity, but they believe the remains are those of Edith Cauthen. She had medical issues and was reported missing by her family in July. Deputies said Cauthen was last seen walking near her home on Old Lynwood Circle in June.
Cauthen's relatives declined to comment by phone, saying they were too upset to comment. The dog's owner said Cauthen lived in his neighborhood.
"I don't know if it was foul play or not," he said. "She was an older lady and she was on a lot of medications, and she might have wandered off."
The remains have been sent to a pathologist in Newberry, S.C., to determine the cause of death. In the meantime, the man hopes what his dog uncovered will bring investigators answers and give someone's family closure.
"I told them to give my dog a medal because they probably would have never found the body," he said.
Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile said he expects preliminary results from the pathologist in the next few days. Faile said the results will let them know whether foul play was a factor in the death.
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