Officials: Bone fragments in Drexel case definitely human

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Investigators said Tuesday a forensic anthropologist has verified that bone fragments found in a residential backyard in rural Cass County last week were human.

Kansas State University professor Michael Finnegan had said Friday that his preliminary tests indicated the fragments were human and he was able to confirm that with additional tests. Authorities said one of the five fragments came from a whitetail deer.

Michael Shaver, 33, has been charged with a single count of first-degree murder and is being held on $1 million bond after telling law enforcement that he killed seven people and dumped their shattered bones in his yard.

On Tuesday, 19 officers continued to meticulously scour the backyard of Shaver's cabin near Drexel, finding 35 bone fragments and a tooth. On Monday, they said they had found more than 50 pieces of evidence, including a hatchet.

Finnegan said Friday that the bones had come from at least two different people. Cass County sheriff's officials said Tuesday they have not yet started testing the newly found bone fragments to determine the number of victims.

Prosecutors face the difficult task of prosecuting Shaver without the name of a victim, so far charging him with the death of a "John Doe."

While DNA testing is a possibility to determine to whom the bone fragments belonged, sheriff's Maj. Jeff Weber said it would be "near impossible" to link the bones to an individual without a family member of a potential victim stepping forward to provide DNA against which they could compare. Such testing has yet to begin, officials said Tuesday.

According to authorities and court documents, Shaver told investigators he killed seven men -- all of whom he said he met through drug deals -- to steal their money and drugs. According to authorities, Shaver said he lured the victims, all between 20 and 40 years old and from the Kansas City area, to his home and then shot them.

Authorities said he told them he dismembered the bodies with an ax or hatchet, burned the body parts in a fireplace in his bedroom and then smashed the skulls and larger bones with a hammer. According to authorities, he said he scattered the ashes and bone fragments in his backyard.

Investigators said they believe the deaths began occurring about five years ago, around the time Shaver moved into the house.

Deputies arrested Shaver and another man Friday after a failed carjacking. Shaver told deputies as he was being placed into a patrol car that he knew about human remains on the property and that he wanted to talk to someone about it, officials said.