San Bernardino County officials said the remains have not been identified and DNA testing is pending.
APPLE VALLEY, Calif. — A person walking around a recently purchased property in Apple Valley found human remains Friday evening, prompting a homicide detail investigation in San Bernardino County, sheriff’s officials said.
Deputies responded at about 8:20 p.m. June 26 to the 19000 block of Crest Drive after the discovery was reported. The case is being handled as a death investigation while officials work to identify the remains, determine how long they had been there and learn whether a crime occurred.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said the reporting party had recently bought the property and was walking around the location when the remains were found. A deputy arrived, located the remains and secured the scene. The Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division Homicide Detail then took over the case. Detectives Ryan Grissom and Sgt. Bryan Sprague were listed as the investigators assigned to the matter. Sheriff’s officials said detectives, coroner’s personnel and crime scene specialists searched the area and collected multiple bones.
A preliminary examination found no obvious signs of trauma, officials said. The decedent has not been identified. Authorities said an autopsy will be conducted, and more information is pending DNA results. Officials have not said whether the remains belonged to one person or whether more remains may be found on the property. They also have not released details about where on the property the bones were located, how visible they were or whether the site had been vacant before the purchase.
The discovery drew attention because it came during what appeared to be a routine walk around private property in the High Desert community. Apple Valley sits in San Bernardino County’s Victor Valley region, where large lots, desert terrain and older rural properties can make searches more difficult. Investigators have not linked the Crest Drive case to any missing person case or earlier death investigation. Officials also have not named any former owner, tenant or person connected to the property.
The next steps are expected to center on forensic testing. Coroner’s officials will examine the bones, while DNA testing may help identify the person and notify relatives. The autopsy also may help determine a cause and manner of death, though officials have not said when those findings will be complete. The case number listed by sheriff’s officials is DR 182603751 and H 2026-064.
Sheriff’s officials asked anyone with information to contact the Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904. People who want to remain anonymous may contact We-Tip by calling or texting “REPORT” to 844-909-3006. As of Monday, officials had not announced an arrest, a suspect or a confirmed cause of death.
The investigation remained open Monday as detectives waited for autopsy and DNA results. The identity of the deceased, the timeline of death and the circumstances behind the remains remain unknown.
Author note: Last updated June 29, 2026.