JAL, NM – Investigators found evidence of 10 to 20 human skulls on a property in southeastern New Mexico.

Lea County Sheriff Corey Hilton said his team sent those skull fragments for analysis. While a person connected to this case is behind bars, the sheriff is asking the community to be patient and wait for the truth to come out.

“It could be a day, it could be a week, it could be a few months,” Hilton said. “We’ll wait until they tell us something about what they found. “I know our viewers are worried, but I can tell you we don’t have a serial killer on the loose.”

Investigators discovered bone fragments, including skull and jawbone fragments, while searching a property in early November, according to the sheriff’s office.

Parts is the keyword.

“We’re not talking about 10 or 20 intact, completely cohesive skulls. These are fragments from what the forensic anthropologist estimates are between 10 and 20 individuals,” said Lea County Sheriff Corey Hilton.

The Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque is analyzing the evidence, Hilton said. They are working to potentially identify any victims and see if one of them is Angela McManes, who was last seen near the property in 2019.

“That’s our focus, where he is. Investigators worked tirelessly on this. “We are following leads in and out of state and will leave no stone unturned until we get an answer,” Hilton said.

While there are no active suspects, 28-year-old Cecil Villaneuva is at the center of this case.

He was reportedly staying on the property where the skulls were found when a driver giving Villanueva a ride reported him for making alarming statements and throwing what appeared to be human bones out the car window.

“A number of people in Jal, including the police force, knew that this man was carrying human bones,” Hilton said.

But that’s not enough to make him a suspect in this case.

“One of my chief deputies looked it up online, and you can buy bones online and skulls online,” Hilton said.

The sheriff says that means he has to wait until medical examiners are done with their work.

“We’re really talking blindly until we get their reports,” Hilton said.

Hilton confirmed that Villaneuva is behind bars on a charge unrelated to this case.

While his office is still awaiting the OMI report, he is asking the Lea County Sheriff’s Office to call regarding any other missing persons who may or may not have information about this case.