JAL, N.M. — A New Mexico family wonders if they’ll get closure after their loved one might be connected to human remains found in a town near the state line with Texas.

Authorities say 10-20 human skulls were found in the small southeastern New Mexico town of Jal. However, they haven’t identified those remains.

The Lea County Sheriff’s Office released the information Tuesday. But, on Sunday, the victim’s father was told the investigation into Angela Kelton McManes’ disappearance concluded. Angela has been missing since 2019. 

According to the sheriff’s office, last week, someone told an investigator about an encounter a resident had with 28-year-old Cecil Villanueva while offering him a ride. The resident alleges Villanueva carried with him two bags and discarded items that looked like human bones.

The sheriff’s office searched that area. A pathologist confirmed they found human bone fragments.

Then, on Wednesday, deputies searched where Villanueva was staying on South 4th Street. They found more bone fragments there, including portions of a skull and a jawbone.

Then, on Saturday, they came out to the property again for a more extensive search and found evidence of 10-20 human skulls. Authorities took those remains to the Office of the Medical Investigator for analysis and potential identification.

Prosecutors haven’t charged Villanueva with any crime yet. Villanueva claimed someone purchased the skulls from an online source. The sheriff’s office is working with an anthropologist to determine if that is true.

Authorities are also working to determine if there’s a connection between Angela and the other remains. That is because her last known home is near the South 4th Street location.

Her sister, Kris Kelton, told KOB 4 that they don’t have much closure right now. They just have a lot of questions.

“No, simply because it’s still pending. Yes, do I think it’s possible when you think it through? But you know, we don’t want to come to any conclusion until we know the final outcome,” Kelton said. “All we know is pretty much what’s been released through social media.”

Kelton explained it’s been five-and-a-half years since her sister left without a trace. Angela left behind her glasses, diabetes medication and money.

That alone leads Kelton to believe her sister didn’t choose to leave. She also said that her sister would never abandon her and her three children.

“If it come to her kids, she was going to defend them right or wrong and then deal with the wrong or right. She was a great mom. She loved her kids more than I can even tell you. I know everybody loves their kids, but that was one of our clues that something was wrong, because she would not have walked out on her children,” Kelton said.

Kelton said, because it’s been so long, her family has somewhat accepted that they might not see “Angel” again.

Of course, she still has hope.

She also said she’s thankful for the tight-knit community of Jal who have helped search for Angela.

Right now, Kris is asking for prayers for “Angel’s” children and especially her father.

“It’s my dad I feel worse for. We are supposed to lose our parents, but parents aren’t supposed to have lose children, especially if it ends up being a murder or a something of that account that is still unknown,” Kelton said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lea County Sheriff’s Office at 575-396-3611 or Crime Stoppers at 575-393-8005.