Sean Smith said he was digging several feet under the concrete foundation of Isleton's Del Rio Hotel when he made a startling discovery.Watch report -- Human bones found under old Isleton building"I jumped out of the hole and ran to the door," Smith said Tuesday. "I don't think my feet even touched the ground."Photos -- Human bones found underneath Isleton hotelSmith was working with A.J. Moreno to locate an underground pipe when they discovered human bones buried in an area of the building that is being reconstructed for new apartments."I was like, really scared," Smith said. "I was like, 'What the ... ?' This can't be happening. No way."The hotel opened in 1949 and once offered full gaming and juicy steaks, according to the editor of the local newspaper.Moreno said given the hotel's history and how deeply they had dug before unearthing the bones, he was freaked out by the discovery."It kinda hits ya inside the heart and goes down and you're like, 'whoa!' You just want to get away," Moreno said.The bones looked like human fingers, leg bones and a spine, Moreno said.He said the crew alerted the building's owner, who then contacted the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.A spokeswoman for the department said the bones were collected and turned over to the Sacramento County Coroner, who is now examining them to determine if foul play is suspected.In the meantime, the immediate area where the bones were found has been taped off and work has been suspended."The rumors have already started -- who it is, when it happened," said Randy Sennett, a longtime Isleton resident. "The stories are going to get outrageous."

Sean Smith said he was digging several feet under the concrete foundation of Isleton's Del Rio Hotel when he made a startling discovery.

Watch report -- Human bones found under old Isleton building

"I jumped out of the hole and ran to the door," Smith said Tuesday. "I don't think my feet even touched the ground."

Photos -- Human bones found underneath Isleton hotel

Smith was working with A.J. Moreno to locate an underground pipe when they discovered human bones buried in an area of the building that is being reconstructed for new apartments.

"I was like, really scared," Smith said. "I was like, 'What the ... ?' This can't be happening. No way."

The hotel opened in 1949 and once offered full gaming and juicy steaks, according to the editor of the local newspaper.

Moreno said given the hotel's history and how deeply they had dug before unearthing the bones, he was freaked out by the discovery.

"It kinda hits ya inside the heart and goes down and you're like, 'whoa!' You just want to get away," Moreno said.

The bones looked like human fingers, leg bones and a spine, Moreno said.



He said the crew alerted the building's owner, who then contacted the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

A spokeswoman for the department said the bones were collected and turned over to the Sacramento County Coroner, who is now examining them to determine if foul play is suspected.

In the meantime, the immediate area where the bones were found has been taped off and work has been suspended.

"The rumors have already started -- who it is, when it happened," said Randy Sennett, a longtime Isleton resident. "The stories are going to get outrageous."