[bloodrayne]

Skeleton Appears To Be Missing Santa Cruz Man

California - The skeleton found Sunday off Empire Grade Road appears to be that of a Santa Cruz man reported missing last February, coroner's deputies said Tuesday.

Investigators found no evidence of foul play in the death of Charles Campbell, 31, deputy Alan Burt said.

A forensic examination to determine the cause of death will take about five days, he said.

A Santa Cruz mushroom hunter found the nearly intact skeleton about 1.5 miles from the West Entrance to UC Santa Cruz, about 100 yards from the road.

The man didn't report his find until Monday, he told investigators, because it was nearly dark.

Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Reyes said the hiker also "made reference to the person being deceased anyway."

Burt said he was 99 percent sure the remains are Campbell's; X-rays from Santa Barbara to confirm the identity are due at the Sheriff's Office today.

Campbell had metal rods in his back, Burt said, and rods were found at the scene. Burt declined to reveal other evidence found there.

Deputies had searched the area in February after Campbell was reported missing and his car was found parked in the area.

Burt said he reached Campbell's parents Monday night in his boyhood home of Santa Barbara.

Campbell's mother reported her son missing to Capitola police early last year, Capitola detective Mark Gonzales said, because he had stayed in a recovery home there at one time.

Campbell had moved to Santa Cruz, Gonzales said, but state law requires any police agency to take a missing person report when they receive one, he said.

Burt said he did not know how long Campbell had lived in Santa Cruz County.

Initial reports indicated the remains were found on UC Santa Cruz land, but deputies Tuesday said the land might be part of Wilder Ranch State Park.

"The only reason it was found is because this mushroom hunter went off the beaten path," he said. Mushroom hunters "find a lot of things for us."