3rd Set Of Body Parts Found In Macomb County Sewer

STERLING HEIGHTS (WWJ) - Body parts have been discovered in a Sterling Heights sewer — the third such find in Macomb County in just over a year's time.

Police Lt. Kevin Reese says crews working on a sewer line, on 15 Mile near Maple Lane, found the pieces on a grate Wednesday morning.

"Workers from the Inland Water Pollution Control were working and discovered three pieces of human remains on a sewer line," said Reese.

Reese described the pieces as skin and fatty tissue.

He said, so far, there are few clues as to how the parts got down there.

"The prices are small enough that they could have been flushed down a toilet, could have been places in a clean-out, could have been dropped in the sewer," Reese said. "And this line runs all the way, to the north, all the way up to Clarkston."

Reese said the remains appear to be from "a Caucasian human."

They've been turned over to the Macomb County Medical Examiner's Office for further examination. After that, said Reese, DNA samples will be submitted to the University of North Texas center for identification and testing.

The discovery was made in the same area where several body parts were found in August of last year.

Police said those parts, which also did not include bones or internal organs. belonged to "a Caucasian female with a large build," who has yet to be identified.

Reese said they're still hoping someone will recognize a tattoo visible on the skin in that case and come forward with information. A photo was provided to the media. (View it here - Please note: Image at link shows actual human remains and may be disturbing).

Another similar discovery was made last December by sewer contractors in Warren, about 5 miles from Wednesday's scene. DNA analysis determined that the two fleshy pieces found — in an 85-foot deep drain west of Schoenherr Road, near 10 Mile, in the Edison Corridor — also belonged to a white woman, but not the same woman as in the August case.

An investigation is ongoing.