Authorities Seek Public's Help Identifying Woman Found Behind Shore Mall
EGG HARBOR Twp. N.J. (CBS) -- The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office is asking for the public's help in identifying the remains of a female victim found in Egg Harbor Township Sunday afternoon.
The discovery is currently being investigated as a homicide, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced Monday.
According to officials, a hunter came across human remains in the woods behind the Shore Mall site near Broadway Avenue.
The hunter, who is a local police officer, immediately contacted authorities and reported the discovery, according to McClain.
"It was found in the wooded area. I don't want to go into any more detail than that. We are treating this as a homicide investigation right now and due to the fact that we are treating it as a homicide, I don't want to release too many details about the way the body was situated at the time it was found," McClain said.
Officials say the remains were collected by the State Medical Examiner's Office, who is currently completing an autopsy. Due to the advanced stage of decomposition of the remains, a State Medical Anthropologist is also being consulted.
While the autopsy remains ongoing, officials say the victim's remains have been identified as female. The age and race of the victim have not yet been determined. Officials say several tattoos on the victim were also identified. The tattoos were located on the victim's right wrist and on the top of the right foot.
The discovery of the remains is currently being investigated as a homicide by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit in conjunction with the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, according to McClain.
Anyone who recognizes these tattoos, has any information pertaining to this case or has noticed any suspicious activity in the area is asked to call the Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor's Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.