Photo: Lea County Sheriff's Office
Authorities in Lea County, New Mexico, have uncovered a disturbing scene at a Jal residence, where at least 10 human skulls were discovered, with a potential connection to a woman missing since 2019. The Lea County Sheriff’s Office was alerted on November 5 after an investigator received information about a resident’s unsettling encounter with a passenger who was reportedly carrying suspicious items.
The passenger, identified as 28-year-old Cecil Villanueva, had been given a ride by the Jal resident, who later reported that Villanueva was “carrying two bags” and “made alarming statements and discarded objects from the vehicle,” some of which appeared to be human bones, according to a press release on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page.
Following the tip, officers searched the area around a local convenience store, where the resident reported Villanueva had discarded items. They discovered bone fragments, which were confirmed by a pathologist to be human remains. This led investigators to Villanueva’s residence on South 4th Street, a property that had previously been associated with rumors of human remains. With a search warrant in hand, officers searched the home on November 6, uncovering additional bone fragments, including parts of a skull and jawbone.
The shocking findings prompted a more extensive search on November 9, during which authorities discovered “evidence of 10–20 human skulls.” These remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque for further analysis and potential identification.
According to authorities, Villanueva told investigators that he had purchased the remains online, but as of now, no charges have been filed against him. The investigation has since drawn links to the 2019 disappearance of Angela McManes, who lived near the South 4th Street property before she went missing.
Angela McManes’ family, including her sister Kris Kelton, is following the investigation closely. Kelton spoke to KOB 4 about the lack of conclusive information connecting the remains to her sister. “No, simply because it’s still pending. Yes, do I think it’s possible when you think it through? But you know, we don’t want to come to any conclusion until we know the final outcome,” Kelton stated, adding that the family’s current knowledge is largely based on public updates.
The case remains under investigation, with authorities working to identify the remains and determine if they are connected to any missing persons, including McManes.
