UPDATE: Work to recover human remains found at future Redding Costco site to continue today

UPDATED: Tuesday, Dec. 7, 8:31 a.m., With additional details from Redding Police Department

Originally Published: Sunday, Dec. 5, 5:42 p.m.

REDDING, Calif., — Officials say that bones found at a Redding construction site have been confirmed to be human and today members of the Chico State University’s Anthropology Department have been invited to the location to continue working to recover the existing remains.

The bones were discovered at the future Costco site around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3 by Native American Archeological Monitors who had been contracted and assigned to the South Bechelli Lane commercial development project, which includes construction for the big-box retailer.

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After the discovery, Archeological Monitors notified Redding Police Department of their find, at which time construction was temporarily halted to allow local officers, as well as Shasta County Sheriff’s Department and Coroner officials, to respond to the location to conduct an investigation. 

Construction is continuing at the site of a future Costco, despite Native American Archeological Monitors discovering what has since been confirmed as human remains at the location. Redding PD photo

After confirming that the found remains were human, Redding PD Sergeant Jon Sheldon said, “Out of an abundance of caution, police personnel cordoned off the area and are restricting public access similar to a crime scene.”

“Construction in all other areas around the cordoned off zone is not affected and work continues on the project,” said Sheldon.

While some of the remains found on the surface have already been collected by the Shasta County Coroner’s Office, Sheldon said further analysis is needed to determine how old the remains are.

“However, initial examination suggests they are not historical,” the Sergeant explained; saying the remains do not appear to be older than 100 years.

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The discovery has left many locals wondering what the find could mean for Costco’s ongoing construction; however, Redding Public Works Director, Chuck Aukland, has said the City is continuing to move forward with the construction of the project, as well as other projects around the property.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Department Detective Division at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 21R078978 and can remain anonymous.



Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.