Lakewood police are investigating what they suspect are human and animal remains believed to have been used for occult worship.

Officers were called around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 to the 1200 block of Kline Street where a cleaning crew hired by a realtor made the discovery, said Steve Davis, Lakewood police spokesman.

The bones were found in a shed, along with candles, bottles, chains and a crucifix, Davis said.

The former owner of the home left the country in 1998 and has since died, police said. Investigators talked to people who knew the man, including at least one family member, who indicated he was an occultist, Davis said.

“It’s all very strange,” Davis said.

The items in question in the shed were extremely soiled, covered in multiple layers of dust and appeared to have been undisturbed for more than 15 years, Davis said.

One of the man’s relatives lived at the house until a few months ago, police said.

The bones will now be tested for DNA, but that may not yield any results as to where the bones came from, Davis said.

“I learned today you can buy that sort of stuff over the Internet,” he said. “So, we may not even have a crime here.”

The DNA testing process could take several weeks or quite possibly months, police said.

Police ask anyone with information on the case to call 303-987-7111.

Ryan Parker: 303-954-2409, rparker@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ryanparkerdp