Forensics determines mandible likely was Chinese worker

Investigation reveals jawbone estimated to be from late 1800s

Forensic officials at the Montana State Crime Lab have concluded, after a two-month investigation which wrapped up last week, that a mandible found in August at the Trego Green Boxes, likely is that of a Chinese immigrant from the late 1800s who was either a miner or worked construction on the railroad.

The mandible, which is the lower jaw of a human, was found in a Ziploc bag along with loose teeth in the trash containers and turned over to a Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy in Eureka.

“It is somewhat of a relief to know we don’t have a homicide on our hands,” Bowe said Wednesday afternoon. “There are times we get these things and it could be a suicide or by an arrow or something. … We just don’t know.”

After a local dentist and medical doctor confirmed it to be human the following morning, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office entered the mandible into evidence and initiated an investigation. 

The mandible was found on Aug. 22. A day later, the Green Boxes were secured and searched, as well as a trash truck carrying garbage from that Trego location was intercepted outside Libby and escorted to the landfill where its contents were searched.

Both searches turned up no additional evidence of human remains.

“It would be good if we could get the rest of the remains,” Bowe said. “Otherwise, in five or 10 years when they do turn up, we’ll have to go through this whole process again.”

Bowe indicated he was hoping for a different conclusion.

“We still have a missing person in Eureka, and initially, I thought this is what that may have been. They’ll (the remains) will be found. It might just take awhile.”

The next day, Aug. 24, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office took the mandible to the Montana State Crime Lab in Bozeman for further analysis. 

After a two-month analysis, which included the assistance of an anthropologist at the University of Montana, it was determined that the mandible is from an adult male, likely representing remains from a historic Chinese burial. 

Before a final burial, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office would like to make every attempt to collect any additional remains from this case. 

To assist in this effort, it is asking for the person who dropped off this mandible at the Trego Green Boxes to come forward and assist us in this investigation. 

“We’d like to find the rest of the remains, so we can give it a proper burial,” Bowe said.

 Persons with information should call 293-4112.