By: Channel 9 Eyewitness News
news@kcautv.com
On November 5, 2012, the Sac City Police Department investigated skeletal remains that were found buried in a basement during a renovation at 610 N 5TH Street in Sac City. The skeletal remains were sent to the Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy and possible identification.
The remains were identified through dental records as those of Mark Koster. Additional autopsy results could take 6 to 8 weeks or longer, due to the condition of the body.
Mark Koster was the prior owner of the 610 N. 5TH Street residence. In 2010, he was listed by his family as a missing person. His family later had Mr. Koster declared deceased by the courts. The Sac City Police Department, along with the Iowa Division of Criminal investigation, investigated Mr. Koster's disappearance at that time. A search warrant was served on Mr. Koster's residence and no signs of foul play were discovered at that time.
Mr. Koster was last seen in May 2009. He reportedly had an unknown male that had been staying with him for approximately 3 months prior to his disappearance.
Due to the suspicious circumstance of the location of where Mr. Koster's remains were found, this case is currently under investigation.
The Sac City Police Department, along with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, is asking anyone with information on this case, or any information on Mr. Koster's roommate, please call the Sac City Police Department at 712-662-7772.
By Channel 9 Eyewitness News
news@kcautv.com
The remains of what is believed to be a human skeleton is likely related to a cold case out of Sac City, IA.
The new owner of 610 North 5th St. found the bones on Monday while cleaning out the basement. Sac City Police Chief John Thomsen wouldn't disclose exactly where the skeleton was found, but he did say "it was in a place that was not very accessible."
The previous owner of the house, Mark Koster, went missing on July 4th, 2009. His body was never found and his death has gone unsolved to this point. In 2011 a Sac County court declared Koster dead by accident or other violent means.
Koster, 58 years-old when he went missing, is described as a quiet man who kept to himself by neighbors Channel 9 spoke with. However, it was reported that he was living with another man for three or four months prior to his disappearance.
Thomsen says neighbors told them the man was named Tom, and received conflicting reports saying he was from Texas or Florida. The man believed to be named Tom also went missing on July 4th, 2009.
Police attempted to locate the man for questioning, but never turned up any solid leads. The Department of Criminal Investigation even did a full search of the home in 2010 hoping to turn up DNA. They had no such luck.
Thomsen says the bones is "likely one of the two men," but says there was no direct link identifying the remains as either of the men.
The Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office is examining the remains. They hope to identify the body before the end of this week.
We have a crew in Sac City and will have complete details on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 5, 6 and 10pm.
Mark Koster has been missing since July 4th, 2009.
