Hiker finds skull near Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities believe a skull found by a hiker west of Lake Tahoe may be that of a man who disappeared while mountain biking four years ago.

David Berne, 63, found the remains Aug. 16 while hiking west of Echo Summit and turned it over to the El Dorado County sheriff's office.

Authorities believe the skull to be that of Andrew Sewell, a 59-year-old Rio Vista man who disappeared Oct. 17, 2004.

In 2005, search-and-rescue members located belongings of Sewell's along with nine bones confirmed by DNA testing to be those of Sewell.

The cause of Sewell's death is listed as accidental exposure.