Remains ID'd as serial killers' victim

SAN FRANCISCO -- Human remains uncovered in Northern California with the help of a convicted serial killer have been preliminarily identified as one of his victims, and authorities continued to search another site for the remains of as many as 10 people.

Dental records identified the remains found Thursday in Calaveras County as those of Cyndi Vanderheiden, 25, San Joaquin sheriff's spokesman Les Garcia said Saturday.

Authorities were still awaiting the results of a DNA analysis to confirm the identification, Garcia said.

Cyndi Vanderheiden's father, John Vanderheiden, said he is waiting the DNA results, but he is almost sure the remains are those of his daughter.

"There will be closure after that," he said.

Searchers following a map prepared by convicted serial killer and death row inmate Wesley Shermantine have so far uncovered two sets of remains near property once owned by Shermantine's family about 60 miles south of Sacramento.

One set is believed to belong to Vanderheiden, who disappeared in 1998, and the other is believed to be 16-year-old Chevelle "Chevy" Wheeler.

Authorities have not positively identified the remains found Friday as those of Wheeler. But Wheeler's parents said they were notified that the remains were found in a spot where Shermantine said their daughter was buried after she disappeared in 1985.

"They said they found her wrapped in a blanket," Paula Wheeler, the girl's mother, told The Associated Press by phone from the family's home in Crossville, Tenn. "This is a happy day. We can finally have some closure."

Investigators said they believe Vanderheiden and Wheeler were among as many as 15 victims of Shermantine and his childhood friend Loren Herzog. They were called the "Speed Freak Killers" because of their methamphetamine-fueled killing spree.

Shermantine recently agreed to disclose the locations of bodies in return for a bounty hunter's offer of $33,000. He is giving hand-drawn maps to authorities, who are now turning their attention to a third site - an abandoned well - in San Joaquin County, which authorities continued to search Saturday.

Shermantine has indicated up to 10 additional bodies could be there, according to authorities.

"We haven't located any remains as of yet, but we remain hopeful," Garcia said.