Texas plumber finds decomposed skull, identified as missing man; investigation continues
Medical examiner confirms skull belongs to 30-year-old Austin Tomas Wyrosdick; cause and manner of death pending in ongoing investigation near San Antonio.
A Texas plumber mowing a storefront yard in San Antonio uncovered a decomposed human skull on Sept. 15, prompting a police investigation and a review by the medical examiner. Walter Stephens, who works at Harrell Commercial Plumbing, said he initially mistook the sun-bleached remains for a “dried cantaloupe” before recognizing the gruesome reality. “I saw what looked like a dried cantaloupe or something,” Stephens told KSAT. He picked up the skull, but the bottom jaw remained on the ground. “When I turned it over and saw the teeth, I was like, ‘Oh my God.’” After the discovery, Stephens immediately notified his boss, who contacted authorities.
Police and the medical examiner arrived and found a detached jaw, multiple bones, and other small body parts scattered behind the business near Martinez Creek, the outlets reported. Investigators later located additional remains near a nearby creek. Stephens described the scene as “crazy,” but said the find was a grim reminder of the property’s past and the possibility that the remains had been moved there by an animal or a person. KSAT and KENS5 reported that the sun-bleached remains appeared to have been relocated prior to discovery.
The skull was identified Thursday as belonging to 30-year-old Austin Tomas Wyrosdick, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed. The investigation continues as authorities determine the cause and manner of death, with no details released about how long Wyrosdick had been missing. Police have not disclosed the length of time Wyrosdick was missing or the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, and no additional information about potential witnesses or leads had been made public.
Wyrosdick’s remains were found behind the business in an area adjacent to Martinez Creek, a finding that has prompted a broader examination of nearby conditions and potential connections to missing-person reports in the area. The San Antonio Police Department continues to lead the inquiry, with investigators coordinating with the medical examiner to establish a timeline and search for additional context related to Wyrosdick’s disappearance.
