PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) — Human body parts that authorities say may have been intended for medical research were found this weekend in northern Arizona.
According to a statement released Sunday by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified about the remains near Prescott on Saturday and an examination confirmed they were human.
A second site with additional body parts was discovered Sunday.
The Sheriff’s Office says it is treating the investigation as a homicide but the Yavapai County medical examiner says it appears the remains from both sites are from a medical institution and were intended for use in the educational and research field.
YCSO/Medical Examiner conduct Joint Investigation in the Discovery of Human Remains ...
Posted by Yavapai County Sheriff's Office on Sunday, December 27, 2020
The two sites where human remains were found are believed to be connected, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said on Monday. At each site, puppy pads, used to house train dogs and for incontinent patients in a hospital, were found along with gauze-like material.
"It doesn’t look like on its face that it was a homicide situation. It looks like someone was involved in possessing cadavers and for whatever reason decided to dump them," said Yavapai County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Dwight D'Evelyn, adding that the human body parts were in good condition when found.
"We at least have an opportunity to trace possibly where these originated from, and that’s what we’re working on today."
Yavapai County Sheriff's Office has been questioning hunter's in the area, asking that anyone with game-cameras to check footage for anything suspicious that may lead to more information. Anybody with information should call Yavapai County Sheriff's Office at 928-771-3260 or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.
