On Friday, a discovery of human remains near North Edwards has now officially turned into a homicide investigation after the Kern County coroner released the identity of the person found.

Using DNA samples the Coroner's office identified the victim as 49-year-old Karl Wayne Sharrah of Valley Springs.

Officials were able to determine that Sharrah died from multiple gunshot wounds and said that the manner of death was a homicide.

Back in January, a hiker was about four miles outside of North Edwards off Claymine Road when they came across possible human remains in a severe state of decomposition.