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Suspected human remains found in recycling bin at 21st and Pine — UPDATE

King County Medical Examiners investigated "likely" human remains dumped in the CD. (Image: Alex Garland)

King County Medical Examiners investigated “likely” human remains dumped in the CD. (Image: Alex Garland)

Seattle Police were investigating suspected human remains found in a recycling bin near 21st and Pine Saturday evening. According to SPD, a homeowner called 911 around 4 PM to report finding what he thought were human remains in his bin. The remains were found wrapped in garbage bags, though an SPD spokesperson said he was unsure what made the homeowner suspicious of the items.

UPDATE (4/11): Seattle Police said they were prepared to announce “significant developments” in the case Monday evening along with developments in a Renton missing person case. A Swedish Medical Center nurse who lives in Renton was reported missing on Saturday.

Upon arriving at the scene officers verified the items were “likely human remains,” according to SPD spokesperson Patrick Michaud. Investigators canvassed the neighborhood looking for more possible body parts but had not turned up anything in the hours after the initial discovery. The homeowner told police he put out his recycling bin on Friday and called 911 as soon as he found the remains.

Neighbors told CHS the evidence may have included a human foot, but SPD says investigators had not identified what was found by the time the scene was cleared around 9 PM. King County Medical Examiners took custody of the remains for further investigation. SPD is investigating the case as a homicide, though it was unclear on Saturday where that homicide may have taken place.

“It looks like it was dumped, so it doesn’t appear to have been in this neighborhood,” Michaud said. SPD offered no information on the age or sex of the possible victim.

Multiple units responded to the Central District house along with SPD’s “mobile precinct” vehicle. Detectives taped off an area around garbage and recycling cans outside the home.

While the find may be grisly, it would not be the first time human remains were found along city streets. In 2012 body parts were found in Eastlake belonging to a murder victim whose torso was discovered nearly a year earlier.

SPD is asking anyone with information about the case to call its Violent Crimes tip line at (206) 233-5000.

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Arboretum neighbor
Arboretum neighbor
8 years ago

Very thorough reporting on this. Well done.

listener
listener
8 years ago

A couple of those reporters need to think before they ask questions. Logic and listening skills seem to be lacking.

Mimi
Mimi
8 years ago

Confidential to the Murder: If you are going to kill someone and go through the trouble of dismembering them, don’t throw their body parts in a RECYCLING bin. #foiled #thebestlaidplains #itsallinthedetails

poop
poop
8 years ago
Reply to  Mimi

That should be in the compost.

iluvcaphill
iluvcaphill
8 years ago
Reply to  Mimi

Wow. These comments are disgusting and inhumane. Your parents must be so proud of raising such fine human beings.

another cd resident
another cd resident
8 years ago

This is freaky. Please keep us posted!

Sean
Sean
8 years ago

This is a frightening story. I saw a news article possibly connecting this incident to the woman who went missing Friday night after attending the Mariners game with a guy she met online. Very few details have been released about the body parts found, however, I learned that the foot had polish on the toe nails.