News-Press staff

(Editor's Note: The story was originally published in March 2007)

Fort Myers police have been deluged with media calls after an Associated Press report hinted police believed eight human skeletons found in a wooded area off Arcadia Street on March 23 were the work of a serial killer.

The story was transmitted nationwide to all of the wire service’s subscribers Thursday.

Police reiterated Thursday they do not know the manner or cause of death of the remains.

“Nothing has changed,” said Shelly Flynn, a police department spokeswoman. “We are exploring all possibilities. There is nothing that would confirm homicide at this time.”

A spokesman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said statements attributed to FDLE representatives were incompletely reported.

“When the question is asked whether of not this could be the work of a serial killer, of course the answer is yes,” said Larry Long, an FDLE spokesman. “But the rest of that answer is we don’t know what it is. It could also be bodies that were disposed of there after a natural death. It’s going to be awhile before we really know the answers.”

Long said all questions on the investigation should be referred to the Fort Myers police. “The FDLE is helping with the forensics,” he noted. “FMPD is in charge of the investigation.”

Police have said they are handling the investigation as a homicide until evidence indicates it isn’t. They described those steps as precautionary to insure the integrity of any evidence that is gathered.

“We have to be prepared in case it is a crime,” police Lt. Brian Phillips said. “If it is, the evidence will have been properly gathered.

Meanwhile, crime scene technicians continue to sift for evidence in the woods. No unusual findings were reported Thursday, police said.