Human skull found near home of murder victim

Kentucky State Police are investigating the discovery of a skull near a residence on Adena Drive in the Gray community of Knox County, the same road where a 61-year-old woman was found dead inside her home in July.

According to a report from The Big One 106.3 FM WRIL, the Knox County Sheriff's Department was initially contacted about the discovery before Kentucky State Police took over the investigation. The Knox County Coroner's Office was also called to the scene.

Authorities have not released the identity of the person whose remains were discovered or provided information about how long the skull may have been at the location.

The discovery comes approximately four months after Kentucky State Police began investigating the death of Karen West, 61, who was found dead inside her Adena Drive residence July 4.

Troopers responded to West's home at approximately 4:30 p.m. after a family member discovered her body and contacted authorities.

West's body was transported to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. At the time, investigators said they were awaiting the findings to determine whether foul play was involved.

“We can’t speculate or determine at this time if there is any type of foul play that occurred. Once we get those findings from the state medical examiner’s office that will help the investigation quite a bit,” KSP spokesperson Trooper Shane Jacobs said during the initial investigation.

Jacobs also said investigators did not believe there was any danger to the public.

At this time, authorities have not established any connection between the discovery of the skull and previous investigations in the area, according to WRIL.

The July investigation also led state police to search for West's husband, Terry West Sr., who was reported missing after last being seen in the Gray community on the night of July 3, one day before his wife's body was discovered.

On July 8, Kentucky State Police Post 10 requested the public's assistance in locating Terry West, who was reportedly last seen leaving the area on foot. Investigators confirmed at the time that he was Karen West's husband.

It was not immediately clear whether Terry West had since been located.

Authorities have not indicated whether the skull discovered near Adena Drive is connected to either the death investigation or the missing-person case.

The identity of the remains, the circumstances surrounding the discovery and any possible connection to previous cases remain undetermined as state police continue their investigation.