Doña Ana County Sheriff’s detectives accompanied the remains of an unidentified personTuesday to the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner in Albuquerque, hoping to learn more information about the identity of the person and how s/he might have died.
A possible identification was made, but next of kin have yet to be located or notified. Medical examiners said it could take up to 90 days for positive identification.
The remains were found by two landscape workers who were clearing weeds in the 4500 block of Picacho near Fairacres Road Monday morning just before noon.
The body appeared to have been wrapped in a blue tarp and heavy plastic sheeting. Everything that was discovered with the body was transported to Albuquerque for processing.
Detectives at the crime scene Monday described the remains as "severely decomposed" and suspected the remains had been dumped there, although detectives don't have any information as to how long they were in that location prior to Monday morning.
Intelligence analysts with the sheriff’s department Criminal Investigations Division are conducting an audit of missing persons in the area as part of the investigation.
Anyone with information that might be helpful is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-TIPS (8477). Anonymous tips can also be sent via text message to CRIMES (274637) using the keyword LCTIPS. Both Crime Stoppers numbers are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week and callers need not identify themselves to collect a reward.
Information from Doña Ana County