Dental Features Help Identify Skeleton Found in Pajangan, Bantul
A skeleton was found on a plot of land in Kembangputihan, Guwosari, Pajangan, Bantul, on Monday. The deceased was identified by a distinctive dental feature: a protruding canine tooth.
Bantul Police public relations chief Iptu Rita Hidayanto said an initial medical examination found the remains were those of a man aged an estimated 28 to 40. The skeleton was estimated to be 160 to 165 centimetres tall.
“There was also a distinctive feature in the teeth: a protruding upper canine and an upper front tooth that grew forwards,” Rita told detikJogja on Wednesday (21 October 2026).
Rita said the skeleton had been identified as Muhammad Rofingi.
“The skeleton found in Pajangan has been identified. The person was Muhammad Rofingi (33), a resident of Watugedug, Guwosari, Pajangan, Bantul,” Rita said.
Police contacted residents of Watugedug whose family members had not returned home. After comparing the details, Rofingi’s family recognised the dental features.
“After seeing and recognising those features, the family became certain that the remains found were Muhammad Rofingi,” she said.
Once the identification was confirmed, the family received Rofingi’s remains at around 5pm on Tuesday (20 October). They were handed to Mahsunah, his older sister.
Earlier reports said a birdwatcher had found human remains on land in Kembangputihan, Guwosari, Pajangan, Bantul. Police initially said the identity was unknown, but that the remains were those of a man.
“It is true that human remains were found on land in Kembangputihan, Pajangan,” Bantul Police public relations chief Iptu Rita Hidayanto told reporters on Tuesday (20 October).
Rita said the discovery was made at about 1pm on Monday (19 October), when a local resident was looking for birds in the area. The resident then saw a large number of birds flying away from one spot.
“Curious, the witness went towards the location. On arriving, the witness instead found human remains lying on the ground,” she said.
The witness immediately reported the discovery to Pajangan Police Station. Police and medical personnel went to the site in response.
“By the time they arrived, the body was badly decomposed. An examination indicated that the person had died around four to five months earlier,” she said.
The bones were relatively complete, although some parts still had traces of flesh and skin that had decomposed. An external examination also found that the victim’s hair had thinned.
“Examination of the teeth found one missing upper tooth and one missing lower tooth on the left. Based on the shape of the pelvis and other physical features, the victim was believed to be male,” she said.