Skeletal remains found in Sac City, Iowa basement

Skeletal remains were found in the basement of a home in Sac City. Sac City is about 140 miles (2.5 hours) from Mason City, Iowa (Map: Google Maps)

SAC CITY, Iowa (KTIV-TV) – Authorities in Sac City, Iowa are investigating after skeletal remains were found in the basement of a house. Sac City Police say the remains were discovered around 3:45 Monday morning.

The owner of a home at 610 North Fifth Street was cleaning in the basement and found the remains. The remains have since been sent to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy.

The Sac County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are assisting in the investigation.

Additional notes: Thanks to Dan Borland of Albert Lea for the tip on this story. We’ve covered many discoveries of skeletal remains in the past. Many times the remains are those of a Native American or are completely unrelated to the disappearance of Jodi Husientruit. However, we feel it’s important to report on any suspicious instance of a body found within a certain distance of Mason City, Iowa.

Update

Mark Coster (Sioux City Journal)

Omaha.com | Updated: November 12, 2012

SAC CITY, Iowa — The skeletal remains found buried in the basement of a Sac City home are those of a man last seen three years ago.

Sac City Police Chief John Thomsen says the State Medical Examiner’s Office used dental records to confirm the identity as Mark Koster. He was listed as a missing person in 2010. His family reported he was last seen in May 2009.

Koster, who was 58, was the prior owner of the home and had been living with an unknown man about three months before he disappeared. Police are investigating the death.

No one had lived in the house after Koster disappeared and family members sold the house in May. The new homeowner was remodeling the basement and found the buried remains.