DENVER – Police are investigating after the remains of a man are discovered in two suitcases near the Sanderson Gulch Trail in Denver’s Mar Lee neighborhood.
Denver7 received reports from people living in the area about the suitcases’ discovery and had asked the police for more information. The Major Crimes Division of the Denver Police Department, Lt. Matt Clark, discussed the matter at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Press conference: Investigation underway after human remains found in suitcases near Denver trail
The department confirmed that agents had been called to Block 1700 of S. Java Way Tuesday morning after reports of suspicious bags along the road and found the human remains inside.
The Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) confirmed on Wednesday that the remains belonged to an adult white man, Clark said. He said the man appeared to have “recently died,” although the exact time when he died will be determined by the OME.
A Denver Parks and Recreation, Denver7 employee who spoke earlier Wednesday said one of the department’s employees found the suitcases around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday while clearing snow from the Sanderson Gulch Trail.
Neighbors also said the detectives they spoke to told them there were human remains in the suitcases. Candy Romero, one of the neighbors, said police went door to door in the area asking if neighbors had seen anything or had a surveillance video.
Clark confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that police were in the process of obtaining private surveillance video from nearby homes.
A neighbor, who spoke to Denver7 on the condition that they remain anonymous, said she asked an officer who came to her door if the victim was a man or a woman.
“He said it’s pretty hard to tell when the body parts are wrapped up, but the foot looks the same whether it’s a man or a woman, so basically he couldn’t tell me,” the woman said.
Lt. Clark said police are investigating the case as a murder, but added that the OME would determine whether the man’s death was murder and what cause of death was.
Police have so far not identified any missing person cases in Denver that could be related to the man’s remains, but Clark said the investigation was still in its early stages and would be expanded in the coming days. He said this afternoon’s press conference would hopefully provide more clues to the case.
Investigators at the DPD crime lab are also working to obtain physical evidence of the scene, suitcases or remains, Clark said.