REMAINS FOUND IN FIELD THOSE OF MISSING PALMDALE MAN.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Human remains found last month in a field in east Palmdale were identified Thursday as those of a Palmdale man who had been missing for more than nine months.

Officials say they have no indication of foul play in the death of David Warren Blanchard, 53, who was identified by dental records.

``We're working in conjunction with the Coroner's Office right now to try to determine the cause of death,'' said sheriff's homicide Detective Gabrielle Graves. ``As of now it doesn't appear that there was any foul play involved.''

The remains, which had been scattered by animals, were found by a man walking his dog among Joshua trees and sagebrush north of Avenue R near 60th Street East, within sight of Blanchard's mobile home that he had inherited a month before disappearing, following his father's death.

Investigators said it is possible that Blanchard simply passed out in the field and died of some medical problem, or because he had been drinking.

Before inheriting the home, Blanchard was a transient with no permanent place to stay and a severe drug and alcohol problem, investigators said.

``At this point, all we can say is that it could have been any number of things,'' Graves said.

Blanchard disappeared July 11, 2001, a month after receiving the account just days before his disappearance but had left behind the bulk of his inheritance, including money, a car and the mobile home.

Blanchard was last seen at a bar on Sixth Street East in Palmdale.

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