Human skull, jaw found in Oxnard trash may be old religious altar
Oxnard authorities are puzzling over what appears to be a human skull and jawbone that were discovered by a recycler searching a trash dumpster for bottles and cans.
The bones found in an alley Thursday on 4th Street appeared weathered and were with other items that investigators indicated might have been part of a religious altar, the Ventura County Star reported.
That led to speculation that the remains might be part of a Santa Muerte shrine, a Mexican "Day of the Dead" event that some celebrate each year around Halloween.
"We think this is something that someone might have kept in their home," Oxnard police spokesman Luis McArthur told the Ventura County Star.
While it's not illegal to possess human bones, having them raises questions "unless you're a doctor or something," McArthur told the newspaper.
The bones were taken to the county coroner's office for possible identification.
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