Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Police Search for Body Parts Found Along Pennsylvania Highways

SWIFTWATER, Pa. — Police are taking to the air to search for more body parts after a severed head and dismembered remains were found in trash bags along two interstates in the Pocono Mountains.

A helicopter will be used to assist about 20 troopers on the ground as they search along Interstates 80 and 380, although the aerial search was called off Wednesday due to high winds, said state police Lt. Robert Bartal.

"We will be continuing (to search) for the next couple of days," he said. "We have a pretty large area."

A state road worker salting I-380 discovered a bag containing a woman's severed head about 9 a.m. Tuesday in the median in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County.

The highway was closed and traffic was diverted as troopers combed the road shoulders and medians. They found at least eight bags containing body parts along five miles of Interstate 80 and 15 miles of I-380, stretching from Stroudsburg to Gouldsboro.

Officials have said it is possible there are more body parts.

The victim's identity has not been determined. The remains were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where an autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Police were uncertain how long the remains had been along the highway. Bartal said Wednesday that troopers are reviewing missing persons reports for possible clues to the woman's identity, are pursuing a number of leads, and have asked the public to report seeing anyone missing a head or limbs.

No comments: