Searchers use heavy equipment Saturday to search the West Mesa for human remains

Homicide detectives spent Saturday combing through dirt on Albuquerque's West Mesa looking for more human remains where at least three sets of human remains have been found.

A memorial marks the scene where police say they uncovered the bones of Victoria Chavez. It was the discovery of her body that started detectives on a search for more bones.

Detectives spent eight hours at the site using rakes, shovels and heavy equipment to look in the places they say are most likely to turn up more bones. They painstakingly sifted through buckets of dirt for any sign of body parts.

Both Friday and Saturday brought discoveries of more human bones. Police said it could be a while before they figure out if these are parts from the three known bodies or if they belong to someone else.

Police said the bones Saturday were found nine feet below the surface--a sign they say of how much the earth on the West Mesa has been moved by construction crews.

During the search, a piece of heavy equipment hit a buried power line. Neighbors said it took out power to a nearby subdivision. Electricity was restored by Saturday night.

Police said they will be on the mesa for weeks, if not months, before they know if they have found all the human remains.