In a grisly discovery straight from an episode of CSI, Oregon State Police recovered human remains from a storage unit, launching a major crimes investigation with local and state forensic support.
At a Glance
- Human remains discovered in abandoned storage unit in The Dalles, Oregon
- Oregon State Police Crime Lab assisted in evidence collection
- Discovery occurred August 3 during property inspection
- Local and state officials are investigating potential foul play
- Identification of remains and cause of death pending
Discovery in The Dalles
On Saturday, August 3, an abandoned storage unit in The Dalles drew law enforcement attention after a property manager reported suspicious items inside. Responding officers from The Dalles Police Department contacted the Oregon State Police (OSP) Crime Lab after finding what appeared to be partial human skeletal remains.
Read more: Police: Human remains found in abandoned storage unit in The Dalles · KPTV News
https://www.kptv.com/2025/07/30/police-human-remains-found-abandoned-storage-unit-dalles
With OSP’s forensic technicians on site, the remains were carefully extracted and sent to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office in Clackamas for analysis. Investigators say they cannot yet determine the identity, sex, or manner of death. However, evidence suggests the remains may have been stored for an extended period.
Coordinated Forensic Response
Oregon State Police confirmed its Major Crimes Section has taken the lead in the case, supported by local detectives and the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office. Investigators executed a formal search warrant for the entire facility and interviewed nearby tenants.
Forensic experts are analyzing bone structure, dental records, and potential DNA samples to identify the deceased. They also collected non-biological materials from the unit—including clothing fragments, packaging, and handwritten labels—that may assist in dating or contextualizing the discovery.
As of Monday, OSP had not declared the death a homicide but confirmed the investigation is being treated as “suspicious with criminal potential.” Authorities stated that the unit had been delinquent on payments and vacated without formal notice earlier this year.
Broader Investigative Context
The Dalles, a city of roughly 16,000 in Wasco County, has not seen a high-profile case involving human remains in more than a decade. Police have asked the public to report any missing person cases that could correlate with the current discovery, particularly from the Pacific Northwest region.
Local records indicate the storage unit had changed renters multiple times over the past five years, which may complicate the investigation. Analysts say such cases often take months to resolve due to DNA sequencing backlogs and evidentiary cross-checking.
Officials are expected to release updates once autopsy results are finalized and next-of-kin identification protocols are complete. If criminal activity is confirmed, charges may follow against former tenants or individuals linked to the contents of the storage unit.
Sources
Wasco County District Attorney’s Office
