Vernon remains investigation continues

VERNON, Conn. (WTNH) -- It is day three into the mystery of possible human remains that were found in a former landfill in Vernon. A skull was found there Wednesday and police are back on the scene investigating.

Did a life end there? Or was the spot scouted as a prime disposal site, a place where mysteries can stay silent, for decades, perhaps? What it is now, however, is the epicenter of a puzzle attracting a neighborhood's attention.

"Two days ago, I just looked out and saw cops everywhere, and of course, it makes you wonder, what's going on," said Mel Jones of Vernon.

The answer to that was a discovery, by an artist, combing an old Rockville landfill off West Street for inspiration. Instead, he stumbled upon the beginnings of a crime drama.

"I was the one who found the skull, originally, it's pretty bizarre," said Adam Viens.

It's day three and there are police everywhere. 

"We need to know what it is," said Bunny Neal of Vernon.

A tent has been set up, a UCONN archeologist is on site and common garden tools are even being used.

"It is strange, it's scary to think about it, you know. I heard there was two or three little girls missing years ago," said Jones.

Tolland's Janice Pockett vanished in 1973 and Vernon's Lisa White disappeared in 1974 but police stress it's too soon and frankly, professionally irresponsible to speculate.

"Some family needs to know if the skull and the remains belong to them," said Neal.

For those not wearing a badge, these woods where trash was once thrown will yield no answers. Yet that will not dissipate a community's thirst to know.

"That kind of startles you, right across the street, you know," said Jones.

There are more police on scene today than there were yesterday and police say they will be there all weekend.