Human Jaw Bone Discovered On Nantucket Beach

The Cape & Islands District Attorney's office is now among the agencies investigating a human jaw bone that was found Wednesday by a person walking on a Nantucket beach.

"The State Police detective unit assigned to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s office and Nantucket police are working to identify the remains," according to Assistant District Attorney Russell Eonas.

The intact jaw bone was discovered near Wauwinet, along Nantucket's eastern shoreline. Sources confirmed it was found on the oceanside, rather than the harborside, of Wauwinet.

Nantucket Police showed the bone to Dr. Tim Lepore, who serves as the island's medical examiner, on Wednesday morning to get his assessment. Lepore told the Current that the jaw bone has no teeth, but does have two dental implants. Lepore believes Nantucket Police are now canvassing island dentists to see if there is a match.

Sources with knowledge of the investigation said that due to the presence of the dental implants, there is a reasonable chance that the remains could be identified. But the process, they said, may take some time as the state medical examiner's office is severely backlogged.

The age of the bone was unclear, but given the implants, Lepore said it was relatively recent. Modern dental implants began in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

While Nantucket Police Lt. Angus MacVicar confirmed the investigation, he declined to share any additional information about the case.

"We did recover what is believed to be a human bone and the case is currently being investigated by Detective Lieutenant (Dan) Mack, State Police Detective Unit and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner," Lt. MacVicar said.