Police find human remains in canal

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police are seeking the public's help in identifying a murder victim whose remains were placed in a South Florida canal.

Fort Lauderdale Police held a news conference to discuss a homicide investigation into the remains, Tuesday afternoon. According to investigators, a homeowner found the remains in a container near Northeast 26th Street and Federal Highway over the weekend. The homeowner said he found the container, which weighed about 175 pounds, floating in the canal. "It had a stench to it that I knew wasn't normal," said the homeowner.

Police said, the container was filled with concrete and also contained a pair of gray size 10 New Balance sneakers and eyeglasses prescribed for a farsighted person. Fort Lauderdale Police Sergeant Frank Sousa said, "When you opened it, you could see one of the sneakers, so obviously, the sneaker was detached from the body part."

Police said, the victim appears to be a white adult male, about 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet in height. According to authorities, the victim's body was hacked into several pieces. The victim was killed sometime last week, and police speculate the container with his remains was in the canal for three to four days before it was discovered. "They went to great lengths to dispose of it in a manner that we wouldn't be able to identify the victim," said Sousa.

Investigators would not elaborate on what body parts were found in the container. Sousa said, "There's body parts in this container. What body parts we have, at this point, we're not at liberty to release at this point."

Police divers searched the canal where the container was found to try to locate more clues to the identity of the victim. "We're trying to find more body parts," said Sousa.

Residents in the area were shocked by the gruesome discovery. "It's frightening to think that this is happening in your neighborhood, and who knows if whoever has done whatever lives in your neighborhood as well," said Karen Marsal, who lives near the canal.

Police are now looking for the person responsible for this heinous crime. According to authorities, they have not found anything that leads them to believe this murder is tied to the mob or any other type of organized crime. "We don't have reason to believe, at this point, that it'd be mob-related based on the nature that it was done, but again, I think one of the important things for the general public to understand: whoever did this was heinous. Whoever did this had no regard. Whoever did this went to great lengths to conceal the identity of this victim," Sousa said. "To kill somebody is cold, but then to go and violently sever their body parts in the manner that this person did this is just unexplainable."

If you have any information on this murder, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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