Human remains found buried in the basement of a northwest Iowa home have been positively identified and officials say the circumstances in the case are suspicious.
The Sac City Police Department says the remains of Mark Koster were found November 5th while renovations were being done to the home at 610 N 5th Street in Sac County.
Police say the home used to belong to Koster but he was last seen in May of 2009. His family later had the courts declare him deceased.
Police say an unknown male had been staying with Koster for about three months leading up to his disappearance. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Sac City Police Department investigated Koster’s disappearance and searched his home but found no signs of foul play at that time.
Police say the circumstances and location of Koster’s remains are suspicious and his death is under investigation.
Officials used dental records to confirm the identity of the remains. Autopsy results may take up to eight weeks because of the condition of the remains.
