Bones Found In Creek Bed Not Human Serial Killer Task Force Now Seeking Second Opinion

Bones found Sunday in southern Spokane County probably aren’t human, sheriff’s detectives said.

A landowner discovered the remains about 11 a.m. in a creek bed near the 20400 block of South Jackson Road, near Freeman.

Detectives, including a member of Spokane’s city-county serial killer task force, cordoned off the area to look for clues.

Forensic pathologist George Lindholm examined the bones briefly Monday and determined they most likely belong to a wild animal of some kind, maybe a beaver or bear, sheriff’s Lt. John Simmons said.

Officials removed the remains Monday morning. A forensic anthropologist likely will examine the bones to confirm Lindholm’s assessment, Simmons said.

“Obviously, we’re gun-shy,” Simmons said. “We don’t want to take any chances. We don’t want anything to get by us.”

The task force is investigating the unsolved murders of 20 women since 1984. Detectives have linked seven of the homicides to the same killer.

Most of the serial killer victims were shot to death and dumped in out-of-the-way places.

A woman who matches the general profile of the serial killer victims is still missing. Most of the murdered women used drugs, worked as prostitutes or both.

Melody Ann Murfin, 43, hasn’t been seen since May 10. Murfin is 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 120 pounds, with reddish-brown hair. Her eyes are hazel or green.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Crime Check at 456-2233.