(2/15/99)

Investigators are stymied in the search for clues about a mysterious skeleton found on the outskirts of St. George. The bones of a young teenager were discovered several weeks ago, but no one has stepped forward with any information. News Specialist John Hollenhorst has details.

The modern-day teenagers who found the skeleton say there must be somebody left who knows something about a boy their own age who never came home.

When three teenagers went scrambling around on Webb Hill a few weeks ago, they never imagined they'd stumble across a mystery that might be with them for the rest of their lives.

Cody Adams, of Bloomington Hills, says, "I looked down and there was like a walled-up little cave." Behind a makeshift rock wall they found tattered clothing. And human bones. Jason Franz, also of Bloomington Hills, explains, "Right where I am right now, he was kind of scattered around."

They ran for home, a little frightened, very curious.

To the Medical Examiner, the bones showed signs of immaturity. Dr. Todd Grey, Utah Medical Examiner, says, "Which is what's indicating an age in the early teens, probably 14, 15."

Whoever the young boy was, he died before his time. He had an obvious fracture to his skull. His clothing was turn of the century. His boots were sold through a Marshall Field catalogue in about 1917.

The detective on the case has started going to the library, hoping to find a clue on microfilms of old newspapers. According to Detective Richard Triplett of the St. George Police Department, "They included everything in them. I mean if Aunt Molly was going to visit Aunt Genevieve over in Modena, it's going to be in here. So if a kid ended up missing in that time, I would think it might be in the newspaper."

So, who cares? After all these years, could anyone possibly be left who remembers the boy who, if he'd grown up and lived a long life, would be nearly 100 years old today?

Detective Triplett says, "It'd be nice to put a name on the body. It's one of those things that's not tied up, that just bothers you."

The teenagers today are haunted by their discovery. Cody Adams says, "I feel kind of weird, because I want to know why it happened to us."

They wonder why a boy their own age died so young. Was he murdered? Or was he out for fun too, and injured his head by accident?

And how could his bones lie for generations without being discovered, just a few feet below the clifftop, just a few steps away from a massive antennae complex,in an area surrounded by subdivisions?

But most of all, the teenagers wish an old relative or old friend would speak up for the boy. Jesse Adams says, "I just hope someone finds out who he is."

Detective Triplett has gone through about four years' worth of newspapers starting in 1917. He hasn't found a clue. He'll keep going to about 1927, and then he'll probably set it aside as a frustrating, unsolved mystery.