Authorities say DNA and dental records confirm the remains are those of 25-year-old Curtis Taylor Jr. of Center Point.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Skeletal remains discovered over several months in a Jefferson County neighborhood — first brought home by a family dog — have been identified as a missing Center Point man, the coroner’s office said Thursday. The victim, Curtis Taylor Jr., 25, was last seen in early February 2024 at a family residence across from where the first bones surfaced.
Officials said the identification marks a major step in a case that began when a dog carried a human skull to a home on 5th Place NW in August 2024, prompting searches that later turned up additional remains. Investigators have determined the skull had a gunshot wound. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is now leading the homicide investigation after Birmingham police initially handled early calls. Authorities on Thursday confirmed Taylor’s identity through a combination of dental comparison and DNA analysis, while emphasizing that crucial questions — including who is responsible and where the killing occurred — remain under review.
The timeline spans more than a year. A family reported Taylor missing on Feb. 21, 2024, two weeks after relatives last saw him at a home in the 1300 block of 5th Place NW. On Aug. 20, 2024, a homeowner said her dog returned with a skull found near the roadway outside. The discovery triggered a search of nearby lots and wooded patches. In December 2024, the same dog unearthed a long bone, later identified as a tibia, again near the home. By March 2025, the coroner’s office placed a tracker on the dog to help pinpoint the origin of the remains. In August 2025, deputies and a K-9 team combed a small stand of woods behind Taylor’s family residence and recovered more bones. “I’m glad that he was able to be identified,” said the dog’s owner, Paulina Mejia.
Officials said all skeletal elements recovered were ultimately matched to Taylor. Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates has described the process of matching unidentified remains as methodical and time-consuming, relying on law enforcement tips and national databases, including the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Taylor, who relatives said was visually impaired, lived near the area where the dog first carried the skull. The coroner’s office noted the skull bore evidence of a gunshot wound, but authorities have not publicly detailed the caliber, suspected weapon or where they believe the fatal shot occurred. The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active and declined to release further specifics, including whether detectives have identified persons of interest.
Center Point sits northeast of Birmingham in Jefferson County, where wooded buffers and drainage corridors separate subdivisions and apartment clusters. The dog’s repeated finds, months apart, drew intense community attention and skepticism about how far remains could have traveled. In September, officials said they were exploring whether water movement, animals, or human activity contributed to the scattering of bones. The sequence also put a spotlight on how missing persons reports interface with unidentified remains cases. Taylor’s family notified authorities of his disappearance on Feb. 21, 2024, and records show the home where he was last seen lies across from the route where the first bones were discovered months later.
The sheriff’s office formally took over the case after the identification, a routine shift when a death is ruled a homicide in an unincorporated area or tied to county jurisdiction. Detectives are reviewing search logs, property records and canvass notes gathered since August 2024. The office has not announced any arrests or warrants. Forensic testing of the recovered bones continues, including ballistic and trace examinations. Officials said they are also reconstructing travel paths through the neighborhood and analyzing tips received since the initial call. No court hearings are scheduled, and a briefing date has not been set. The coroner’s office will finalize the cause and manner of death once testing and investigative steps are complete.
The unusual role of the dog, named Chicharin by its owner, drew neighbors to watch law enforcement work. Mejia said the pet was later struck and killed by a vehicle after the most recent discovery. “Everything got resolved, but there’s still some suspicions of what could happen later on,” Mejia said, adding that she no longer feels safe on the block. Residents described seeing cruisers and K-9 teams combing the brush behind homes on hot August afternoons. A man who lives a few houses away said he started keeping his porch light on deep into the night after word spread about the skull.
As of Friday, authorities say the case remains open, with detectives working to determine who killed Taylor and when. Officials said they will release new information once they confirm additional forensic findings. The next milestone is a formal update from the sheriff’s office expected after lab work is returned.
Author note: Last updated December 6, 2025.