Human remains found in West Lafayette

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Police are investigating human remains found just south of the West Lafayette Wastewater Treatment plant.

Bruce Biggs, Lafayette Police Captain, said mushroom hunters found the remains, a human skull, in woods just south of the plant off South River Road.

Police are still investigating the identity of the remains and the cause of death, but Biggs says police do not believe residents in the area are in any danger.

Cadaver dogs are searching the area.

Biggs said there is no way to know yet if the remains could be Steven Lee Smith, who disappeared in December 2008.

In that case, Smith's roommate, Wesley Kelly, 28, was arrested after he admitted to fighting with Smith. Court documents say Kelly told police he and Smith were arguing on the railroad bridge when he hit Smith causing him to fall into the Wabash River.

The remains were not too far distant from the river, but whether the area in which they was found was underwater during March's flooding is not yet known.