UPDATE: Spotsylvania County sheriff’s detectives are becoming confident that the skeletal remains found near the Spotsylvania Quarry belong to Benedict Osband Chase.

BY BILL FREEHLING

Additional skeletal remains and clothes were found yesterday near the Spotsylvania Quarry, authorities say.

Spotsylvania sheriff's detectives spent all day yesterday searching a densely wooded area off Smith Station Road where a skull was found earlier this week.

They found additional bones believed to be a man's arms and pelvis, said Spotsylvania Sheriff Howard Smith. Authorities think the skull, arms and pelvis are part of one human skeleton.

The detectives also found a pair of pants, a necktie and a hat. On Tuesday, they found a waist-length jacket. Smith said the jacket is large, leading detectives to think it belonged to a man.

Luck Stone management found the skull and notified the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office on Tuesday. The remains aren't on Luck Stone's property, Smith said.

The bones have been sent to the state medical examiner's office for testing. Detectives will return today with cadaver dogs to search a moving creek in the area.

Smith said it's not considered a homicide investigation at this point, because there's no evidence of foul play.

The Sheriff's Office sent out a news release yesterday saying they're checking on missing persons cases in other localities. The release also includes the name Benedict Osband Chase, a Spotsylvania missing person.

Chase, who would be 43, disappeared exactly three years ago today in Spotsylvania. He's been the subject of several Spotsylvania Crime Solvers reports.

Chase was last seen leaving Lee Hill Village Circle toward the Lee Hill Elementary School. Earlier that night, he had left the McDonald's where he worked after a disagreement with employees. He never returned for his paycheck.

Smith would not say if there were clothes at the site that could be tied to Chase. He said authorities do not know if the bones are those of Chase or someone else.

Sheriff Smith said that Chase had a girlfriend at the time who lived in the Stonybrook subdivision. Smith said it's possible that Chase could have cut through the woods on the way to his girlfriend's place. The area where the bones were found has limited public access. A gas line runs through there.

Bill Freehling: 540/374-5424
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com