Police ID victim after body parts found in Minneapolis; public help sought

Minneapolis police have released the identification of the victim whose body parts were found in northeast Minneapolis Thursday, and are asking for the public’s help in the investigation.

Police said Thursday that the body parts appeared to be those of a white man in his 30s. Minneapolis Police spokesperson John Elder identified the victim Friday as 36-year-old Adam Richard Johnson, who’s believed to be from Minneapolis. A family member confirmed the news to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Friday, adding that Johnson was a father of two.

The human remains were found at two locations—Northeast Main Street and Third Avenue as well as Third Avenue Northeast and University Avenue. Police said they still haven’t been able to find all of the body.

Elder said Johnson’s cause of death will be determined at a later time. He added that investigators didn’t have a missing person report on Johnson and evidence indicates it was a recent homicide.

Minneapolis police said their top detectives, as well as local and state agencies, are working on the case.

They are also asking for the public’s help.

"We want people to keep their eyes open, if they see anything, that is believed to be suspicious or otherwise, call 911 right away," Elder said. The public can also contact CrimeStoppers with any information.

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

The investigation began Thursday morning when a 911 caller said they may have found body parts.

Crime scene investigators worked for hours to gather evidence and process the scene, even using cadaver dogs.

Police have not yet said whether the body parts belonged to a missing person but said they are looking into missing persons cases.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS spoke with a neighbor who discovered some of the body parts near his house, saying they were in one black bag and one clear bag.

Police said based on the evidence gathered so far, they do not believe the incident was a random homicide.

No arrests have been reported in the case.