Body parts found in northeast Minneapolis, authorities investigating

Authorities are investigating after human body parts were found in northeast Minneapolis Thursday morning.

Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder confirmed during a news conference the body parts appear to be those of a white man in his 30s.

"We don’t know the origin of the body. We don’t know the identity of the body," Elder said. He noted investigators are still trying to sort through everything to come to those conclusions.

Elder said authorities were in the area of Northeast Main Street and Third Avenue Northeast and called the discovery "disturbing." Additional parts were later found in the area of Third Avenue Northeast and University Avenue, Elder said.

Police are asking people in the area to stay vigilant as there may be more body parts. If you see anything that’s suspicious or may be connected to the investigation contact police or call 911 immediately.

Just as Austin Memaridis did. He said he was among neighbors who alerted police after they found the second set of body parts in bags near his house.

"You can’t make this stuff up. It’s unreal," Memaridis said. "This is a really nice neighborhood. It’s really quiet."

Police are working with the medical examiner and the crime lab to investigate the incident as a homicide. Officers continued to search the area with a dog late Thursday afternoon.

Neighbors including Marshall Howell said they are left with many questions that, for now, remain unanswered.

"Is it domestic, is it someone known, is it sending a message?" Howell said. "Because to me, it’s someone wanting more attention, the fact that there are pieces in different areas."

Police will review missing person reports and Elder mentioned that it’s possible but unlikely that a cadaver was obtained in relation to this incident. Elder also noted the body parts appeared to be fresh.

He added that it doesn’t appear to be a random act.

"We have not recovered all of the parts necessary," Elder said, noting that the investigation remains ongoing and any help from the public would be appreciated. "It may not be nothing, it may be something that can truly help us."

The public can also contact CrimeStoppers with any information about this case.

Stay with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTP.com for updates on this developing news.

Going through missing person reports. Person believed to be white. Treating case as a homicide

— Eric Rasmussen (@Eric_Rasmussen) June 17, 2021