Human remains found in El Dorado Canyon east of Minden may be a Lyon County man missing since he wandered away from his disabled car more than a year ago, an investigator said Monday.
"We have not officially identified the body to be his, but items found on the scene lead us to believe it is Paul Watkins," said Investigator Robin D. Hall of the Lyon County Sheriff's Department.
Watkins' parents, Nancy and Bob Watkins, have been searching for their 29-year-old son since he disappeared Feb. 6, 2002.
Two weeks later, his red 2001 Honda Civic was found with a flat tire in the Sunrise Pass area of the Pine Nut Mountains, east of Johnson Lane.
Following the discovery of the car, a two-day search of the mountainous region that spans Douglas and Lyon counties failed to yield any clues because of weather, Hall said.
He said the remains, consisting of a nearly complete skeleton, were found Saturday about two-thirds of a mile from where the vehicle was located.
A prospector who'd been living on the land for about three weeks made the gruesome discovery as he walked near a creek, Hall said.
Foul play is not believed to be factor.
"What happened we'll never be able to recreate," Hall said. "It appears he got a flat tire and decided to walk out, and it's quite a ways out there."
He said because search and rescue crews found a spot where they believed Watkins may have fallen, it's likely he injured himself and was unable to get out.
A pathologist is expected to examine the bones today. Positive identification will made from dental records, Hall said.
Watkins' parents, who were unavailable for comment, held out hope for the past year that their youngest child would be found alive.
The family moved to Dayton from Virginia shortly before his disappearance. He was employed with Wal-Mart and would have turned 30 on Nov. 29.