The Latest: Dad of boy, 5, will plead not guilty to murder
The coroner's office says it still must confirm the identity and determine a cause of death.
The coroner's office says it will also conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The father, Aramazd Andressian Sr. of South Pasadena, is charged with killing him to spite his estranged wife, but he has denied the charge.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says homicide detectives found the remains of Aramazd Andressian Jr. on Friday in the area of Lake Cachuma, a recreational area about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Santa Barbara.
A press statement says the discovery was based on "additional leads" but doesn't provide any other details, including how the boy died.