Crews sift through Altadena catch basin where human bones found

ALTADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- The search continues in Altadena where a human bone was found in a catch basin by public works employees Sunday evening.

Crews were back at the scene Wednesday morning searching for other human remains.

"They were clearing out the basin due to the El Nino," said Ed Winter with the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. "The dirt is being brought over here so we can sift through it and we found some additional bones."

Investigators believe the remains are that of an adult and may be linked to cases from several years back.

"Well back in 2005 and 2007 we recovered bones in that same area up in the canyon, and these all seem to match and fit in, so it's not like we have multiple skeletal remains there in the canyons," Winter said.

This discovery is one of three separate skeletal remains unearthed over the weekend.

A skull vertebrae and pelvic bone were discovered in a remote part of Lake Hughes, and a human hand was discovered in Crescenta Valley just off a hiking trail.

Investigators said the discoveries may be linked to El Nino preparations and heavy rains, and said as the season continues with more rain it may reveal more grisly discoveries.

"After the El Nino rains come, sometimes things are unearthed due to the animal activity in the hills. Also sometimes they are spread out and carried off," Winter explained.

Investigators will test for DNA in all three separate remains to try to identify the victims and determine how they died.

Anyone with information about the discoveries is urged to call the LASD's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500.