LEWISTON – Two men whose bodies were found buried in shallow graves along abandoned railroad tracks in a rural area of Lewiston were homicide victims, investigators said Monday.

Detectives and the state medical examiner’s office identified the two as James Vining, 43, of Lewiston and John Graffam, 30, of Auburn.

“We’re not releasing the cause of death, but we can say that it was a homicide,” Lewiston Deputy Police Chief Mike Bussiere said.

State and Lewiston police said detectives were trying to locate friends and relatives of Vining and Graffam to establish where and when they last were seen alive. Anyone with information about either of the two was asked to call Lewiston police or the state police in Gray.

Graffam was reported missing by relatives about a month ago, and Vining had not been seen by acquaintances in recent weeks, Bussiere said. Vining and Graffam knew each other, police said.

Hunters out on opening day of deer season discovered one of the bodies Saturday when they came upon a coyote digging in a hole. The second body was found a short time later.

Autopsies were completed Sunday evening and the identities of both men were confirmed by Monday morning.