Human bones discovered almost four months apart in Birmingham have been determined to belong to the same individual, and the case has been ruled a homicide, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has announced.

In August 2024, a Birmingham homeowner found a human skull near his home on 5th Place NW, which had been brought there by his dog. The origin of the skull remained unknown, and a search of the area did not recover additional remains. A DNA analysis was conducted on the skull, but it did not match any known individuals in the national Combined DNA Index System database at the time.

Nearly four months later, the same dog was discovered in possession of a long bone, later identified as a tibia, in the front yard of the same residence. Authorities searched nearby properties and reviewed doorbell camera footage, but they were unable to determine where the dog had found the bone or where it had been roaming.

Following forensic testing, the coroner’s office confirmed that both the skull and tibia belonged to the same individual. Despite multiple missing person cases being compared through DNA analysis, the individual’s identity remains unknown.

In an effort to determine the source of the remains, GPS trackers were placed on the dog to monitor its roaming patterns. However, searches in the areas where the dog traveled did not yield any additional findings.

The coroner has ruled the death a homicide due to a gunshot wound. The investigation remains ongoing.