Human remains found scorched in a fire pit may be those of a couple reported missing in Arivaca earlier this month, according to a spokeswoman from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Kenneth Alliman, 49, and Rebecca Lou Loften, 52, were reported missing June 2 when family and friends became concerned they were unable to contact them for more than a week, Deputy Dawn Barkman said in a press release.

The couple lived in the 3700 block of North Trico Road, where another man was also residing, Barkman said.

That man was Michael Jonathon Carlson, 53, who happened to be on the lam after fleeing Texas in mid-May for a parole violation. Carlson had another looming charge: the October 2003 homicide of his sister, Maria Thoma. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death on June 17. But that still left the missing couple.

Sheriff homicide detectives and S.W.A.T. Team obtained a search warrant for the property and, on June 23, discovered burned fragments of human remains in a fire pit, which were verified as human by the Pima County Medical Examiner, Barkman said.

The sheriff department awaits identification of the remains.

Digging through the fire pit/PCSD Photo

Digging through the fire pit/PCSD Photo

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