DENVER – Police are investigating after the remains of a man were found in two suitcases near the Sanderson Gulch Trail in the Mar Lee neighborhood of Denver.
Denver 7 received messages from people who lived nearby about the search of the suitcase and asked police for more information. Major Crime Division Lieutenant Matt Clark of the Denver Police Department discussed the case further at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
News conference: An investigation is underway after the remains of a man were found in a suitcase near a trail in Denver.
The department confirmed that officers were called to the 1700 block of S Java Way on Tuesday morning on reports of suspicious bags on the side of the road and human remains were found inside.
The Medical Examiner’s Office (OME) confirmed Wednesday that the remains belonged to an adult white man, Clark said. He said it appeared the man was “recently dead”, although OME had decided when he would die. Will be done by.
An employee of the department found the suitcase at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday while clearing snow from the Sanderson Gulch Trail, Denver 7, an employee of Denver Parks and Recreation, said early Wednesday.
Neighbors also said detectives they were talking to told them there were human remains in the suitcase. Candy Romero, one of the neighbors, said police went from house to house in the area to ask if the neighbors had seen anything or if they had a surveillance video.
Clark confirmed Wednesday afternoon that police were working to obtain private surveillance video from nearby homes.
A neighbor who spoke to Denver on condition of anonymity said he asked an officer who came to his door whether the victim was male or female.
“It’s very hard to tell when body parts are wrapped, but the legs feel the same whether it’s male or female, so basically he can’t tell me.”
Lieutenant Clark said police were investigating the case as a homicide but added that the OME would decide whether the man’s death was a homicide and the cause of his death.
Police have so far not identified any missing person in Denver who could be linked to the man’s remains, but Clark said the investigation is still in its early stages and will be expanded in the coming days. He said the afternoon news conference hoped to get more lead in the case.
Clark said investigators with the DPD Crime Lab are also working to obtain any physical evidence from the scene, suitcases or remains.
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