DENVER – Police are investigating after a man’s remains were discovered inside two suitcases near the Sanderson Gulch Trail in Denver’s Mar Lee neighborhood.
Denver7 received messages from people living nearby about the discovery of the suitcases and had asked police for more information. Lt. Matt Clark of the Denver Police Department’s Crime Department further discussed the case at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Press Conference: Investigation Underway After Human Remains Found in Suitcases Near Denver Route
The department confirmed that officers were called Tuesday morning to the 1700 block of S. Java Way for reports of suspicious bags near the road and found the human remains inside.
The Examiner’s Office (OME) confirmed Wednesday that the remains belonged to an adult white man, Clark said. He said the man appeared to have been “recently deceased”, although his death will be determined by the OME.
An employee of Denver Parks and Recreation, Denver7, spoke earlier Wednesday, saying one of the department’s employees found the suitcases Tuesday around 7:15 a.m. while clearing snow on the Sanderson Gulch Trail.
Neighbors also said the detectives they spoke to told them there were human remains in suitcases. Candy Romero, one of the neighbors, said police went door-to-door in the area asking if the neighbors saw anything or had a surveillance video.
Clark confirmed Wednesday afternoon that police are working to obtain private surveillance of nearby homes.
A neighbor, who spoke to Denver7 on condition of anonymity, said she asked an officer who came to her door if the victim was a man or a woman.
“He mentioned that it’s pretty hard to tell when the body parts are wrapped, but the leg looks the same whether it’s a man or a woman, so he practically couldn’t tell me,” the woman said.
Lt. Clark said police are investigating the case as homicide, but added that the WHO will determine whether the man’s death is homicide and what is the cause of his death.
Police have not yet identified cases of missing persons in Denver that could be linked to the man’s remains, but Clark said the investigation is still in its infancy and will expand in the coming days. He said that the afternoon press conference will hopefully bring more clues in this case.
Investigators at the DPD crime lab are also working to obtain any physical evidence on the spot, suitcases or remains, Clark said.