http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/environment/family-believes-remains-are-missing-kin(video)
Family believes remains are missing kin
Park rangers find skeletal remain in lava fieldSeptember 22, 2010
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The family of a father and daughter has been contacted by authorities about the skeletal remains found scattered in a remote area of El Malpais National Monument Tuesday afternoon.
“They haven't told me officially but the odds are pretty high,” Becca Tuggle, mother of 20-year old Crystal Tuggle, said about the fact the remains could be those of her daughter and her daughter’s father.
For 8 years, the Albuquerque family has wondered what happened to their loved ones.
20-year old Crystal Tuggle and 46-year-old James Chatman disappeared in June of 2002.
Their car was found in a parking lot on the national monument grounds near the Tubes area of the monument.
The National Parks Service said clothing and credit cards were found with the bones found at the site by park personnel on Tuesday.
Marilyn Pitney, grandmother of Crystal Tuggle, believes the remains are those of her granddaughter and Crystal’s father.
“It was my expectation that these were our people and now we would at least know because we haven't known,” Pitney said.
An extensive 2002 search by air, on the ground, and underground in the lava tube caves turned up nothing.
Jennifer Tuggle, sister of Crystal Tuggle, says her family is going through a roller coaster of emotions all over again.
“It will be sad and good,” Jennifer Tuggle said. “Sad because there is no chance of them coming home. Good because there will be closure.”
Dave Staggs was a close friend of Crystal Tuggle.
“Closure? Sure,” Staggs said. “Will it help deal with all the emotions that come with it? That's going to be a hard call.”
The family hopes an examination of the remains will help solve the mystery of their disappearance.
Despite feeling sad that the 8-year search appears to have confirmed their fears that the two are dead,
Tuggle’s mother takes some comfort in the events of the past 36-hours.
“I've always known she was in a safe place spiritually, but I've always had nightmares of her body out there,” Becca Tuggle said. “Maybe that will stop.”
National Park Service personnel and the New Mexico State Police continue to work to recover the remains from the monument.
The family says they grateful for all of the efforts, help, and support of the hundreds of people involved in the search for their loved ones over the past 8 years.