Officials release photos of jewelry found near skulls in Angeles National Forest

Detectives have released photographs of jewelry found near the skulls of a man and woman discovered last month in the Angeles National Forest in hopes that the items may help identify the remains.
The skulls were found Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 near Angeles Forest Highway mile markers 19 and 17, sheriff's and coroner's officials said.
"Detectives are requesting the public's assistance in identifying jewelry found at the scene, possibly belonging to one of the decedents," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputy Lillian Peck said in a written statement.
The first skull, determined to have belonged to a man, was found Dec. 24 by a hiker and had what initially looked like a bullet hole in it, according to Los Angeles County coroner's officials.
Officials returned to search the area more and found the second skull, determined to be that of a woman, about 2 miles to the south, authorities said.
</CL>In addition to their names, the causes of death remained under investigation Thursday, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
The items of jewelry pictured in the photographs include a gold-colored necklace and a set of three rings, each with five white stones set between red, green and black stones.
The portion of forest where the skulls were found was burned in the Station Fire, which ignited in August of last year.
Officials said the remains appeared to have been there prior to the blaze.
Anyone with information is asked to call detectives Philip Guzman or John Duncan at 323-890-5500.

*PHOTOS come courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.