An autopsy will be performed tomorrow on the human remains uncovered in a wooded area on Lansing’s west side early Saturday morning.
MSU experts have played a crucial part in the investigation by aiding police in excavating the body, and will help with the autopsy if needed.
The body was found around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, just behind the 3000 block of Bayview Drive. A Lansing woman’s dog discovered the partial remains during a morning walk. By Sunday afternoon, the rest of the remains had been located and the process of identifying the individual and the cause of death began, police said.
Lansing police Lt. Ray Hall said it has not yet been determined if foul play was involved in the individual’s death.
“Clearly the possibility is it could be anything from an accident, a health-related accident or foul play,” he said. “This is not an investigation where you find the obvious physical evidence right away, it is one where we must go through the area with a fine-tooth comb.”
The autopsy, being performed at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital by Dr. Joyce de Jong, will help speed up the process of determining the cause of death.
De Jong’s an adjunct professor at MSU.
Todd Fenton, an assistant professor at MSU, was the anthropologist called in to help at the scene.
Fenton said he doesn’t know how this particular autopsy will be performed, but dental and medical records will probably come into play because the body has begun to decompose.
As an anthropologist, he will help determine whether any trauma occurred to the body at death, such as gunshots, stab wounds or blunt force.
“Sometimes autopsy investigations like this can go quickly,” Fenton said. “We could get results by Tuesday if everything falls into place in terms of the identification process. But the cause of death is sometimes tricky so you never know.
“It could take up to a week.”
The primary goal of the investigation is to discover the sex and identity of the remains in order to quell the fear and anxiety of area citizens.
“We are trying to expedite that process to relieve the fears of those around the city, mid-Michigan and the entire state who are looking for missing loved ones,” Hall said.
Investigators will be in contact with Fenton while they continue to comb through the area for clues.
“We are investigating in a thorough and meticulous manner to make sure we don’t destroy any potential evidence that might help us put this mystery together,” Hall said.
