The gruesome discovery of a skeleton in a dead man's apartment created a mystery that is leading authorities to the man's wife.
The bones belong to a white female between 70 and 75 years old. The woman was between 5 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 4 inches tall and was recovering from a blow to her left ribs at the time of death, said San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault.
The bones were found Monday at the apartment of deceased 82-year-old Douglas Fitzgerald. His niece was collecting his belongings after he died of lung cancer April 28 when she discovered the suitcase stuffed with paper and plastic bags filled with bones.
Investigators with the Coroner's Office are trying to determine if the bones may belong to Fitzgerald's deceased wife. The Coroner's Office is checking with the state to obtain a copy of his wife's death certificate to determine when and why she died, said Foucrault.
"We'll be looking at that to find next of kin and to find DNA matches," said Foucrault.
The bones will either be identified through dental records or DNA tests with next of kin listed on the certificate. Officials will have more pieces of the puzzle as soon as they can locate the death certificate, said Foucrault.
In the meantime, officials continue to interview Fitzgerald's family to gather a clearer picture of his past. Officials know he was widowed, has no children and was estranged from his family.
The Burlingame Police Department is taking part in the investigation but will not release information.
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