Rumors have always been floated that bodies have been buried at Charles Manson's Death Valley hide-out and place of arrest. Then, this last February, Detective Paul Dostie of the Mammoth Lakes Police Department and a pack of cadaver-sniffing dogs with a black Labrador named Buster in lead smelled something afoul, eyebrows were raised and dirt samples were analyzed, according to the LA Times.

Now, today is the day that Inyo County sheriff's and scientists head up to Barker Ranch to confirm or put to rest what people think is true -- something that is fascinating some and angering others who think it's a waste of taxpayer dollars.

"I've heard so many stories over the years about Barker Ranch. Some say there's 30 bodies out there; some say 24. Some say none at all. We won't know until they dig it up," country store owner, Rock Novak told the newspaper.

Other locals are predicting that ancient Indian graves will be dug up. And some park rangers think that if human remains are found, they could be from a 1996 disappearance of four German tourists.

Previously on LAist
- Where are Manson's Children Now?

Photo: Arpad Vass investigates a target site looking for buried bodies behind the abandoned Barker Ranch house as Buster, a human remains grave dog looks on in the Panamint Mountains west of Death Valley National Park (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)