Alabama Dog’s Bone Discoveries Uncover Year-Long Homicide Mystery

The quiet neighborhood of Center Point, Alabama, became the center of a chilling investigation after a German Shepherd mix named Chicarin repeatedly brought home human bones from nearby woods. Over the past year, the dog’s gruesome discoveries have led Jefferson County investigators to scattered remains of a homicide victim, unraveling a mystery that began in August 2024 and continues today. This canine’s persistent findings have transformed a family pet into an unlikely partner for law enforcement in a complex unsolved case.

How Did an Alabama Dog Help Solve a Homicide Mystery?

Chicarin’s grim trail began in August 2024 when neighbors spotted the dog playing with a human skull on the road near owner Paulina Mejía’s property. Forensic analysis by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office revealed the skull bore a gunshot wound. Despite developing a DNA profile, investigators couldn’t match it to any records in national databases, leaving the victim unidentified.

Four months later, Chicarin delivered another clue: a human tibia. Testing confirmed it belonged to the same victim. In April 2025, the pattern repeated with a femur discovery, followed by a mandible found during a sheriff’s search. The most recent find occurred on August 9, 2025, when Chicarin retrieved another long bone, prompting deputies to scour nearby woodlands where additional remains were recovered.

Key developments include:

• All 2024 bones confirmed as originating from one victim
• Victim identified as a Black male (Jefferson County Coroner, March 2025)
• Tracking device placed on Chicarin to locate bone sources
• Latest remains undergoing forensic comparison

What We Know About the Victim

Twelve months into the investigation, the victim’s identity remains unknown. Authorities have disclosed only that he was a Black male, with no matching missing persons reports or DNA hits. The isolated, wooded area near Mejía’s home suggests the body was concealed there, likely over a year before the first discovery. The gunshot wound indicates homicide, but without identification, investigators lack crucial context about motive or suspects.

The Unusual Canine Detective

Mejía describes the experience as “unsettling and strange” but cooperates fully with law enforcement. “I’m actually very surprised and proud of them because they have helped for over a year to discover this body,” she told WBRC News. Chicarin’s tracking device proved instrumental in the August 2025 search, guiding deputies to concentrated areas of remains. While pets occasionally uncover human remains, forensic experts note it’s exceptionally rare for one dog to repeatedly find evidence from the same victim across multiple seasons.

The investigation now focuses on:

1. Completing forensic testing on newly recovered bones
2. Reconstructing the victim’s physical profile
3. Cross-referencing national missing persons databases
4. Determining the body’s original deposition site

This Alabama dog’s relentless bone discoveries have exposed a haunting homicide cold case, demonstrating how ordinary lives can intersect with extraordinary mysteries. Chicarin’s instinctive detective work gave voice to a victim silenced by violence, proving that justice sometimes arrives on four paws. As forensic teams work to identify the man, residents await answers—and Chicarin awaits his next walk. Follow Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office updates for breaking developments.

Must Know

Q: How many times did the dog find human remains?
A: Chicarin found bones on four separate occasions between August 2024 and August 2025. Discoveries included a skull, tibia, femur, and additional long bones, prompting multiple evidence searches by deputies.

Q: What caused the victim’s death?
A: The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office determined the skull had a gunshot wound, confirming homicide. No cause of death has been announced for other remains pending full analysis.

Q: Has the victim been identified?
A: As of August 2025, the victim remains unidentified despite DNA testing. Authorities describe him only as a Black male, with no matches in national databases.

Q: Why did investigators track the dog?
A: Deputies attached a GPS tracker to Chicarin to locate where he was finding the bones. This led them to wooded areas near the owner’s home where more remains were recovered.

Q: Are the owners in danger?
A: Paulina Mejía has cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has not indicated any threat to residents, believing the body was dumped long ago.

Q: Could more remains surface?
A: Yes. Given Chicarin’s repeated finds and ongoing searches, investigators acknowledge additional bones could emerge as weather or animal activity disturbs the site.