Human Remains Found in Suitcase at Oakland’s Lake Merritt
Oakland, Calif. – Human remains were discovered stuffed in a suitcase at Lake Merritt on Tuesday morning. The Oakland Fire Department has confirmed the grisly find, which was made by volunteers who clean the lake and immediately called 911.
The body was found near Lakeshore and Hanover Avenues on the edge of Lake Merritt. This shocking discovery has shaken the community, as the lake is considered the city’s crown jewel and a popular wildlife refuge for nature enthusiasts and joggers.
Kevin Shomo, a volunteer with the Lake Merritt Institute, described how they came across the suitcase. “We kind of pulled it towards us closer using these net poles,” Shomo said. After realizing how heavy it was, they unzipped it and found the man’s body inside. Shomo believes the man was in his 30s and was crammed into the suitcase in a fetal position.
Oakland police homicide investigators and Alameda County coroner’s investigators arrived at the scene to begin their inquiries. Oakland police Captain Alan Yu stated that it is unclear when and where the suitcase ended up in the water, and whether the victim matches any missing persons reports. “Part of the investigation is trying to determine where the body could have floated from. It could be any part of the lake, and we’re looking at all those possible outcomes,” Yu said.
The discovery attracted a growing crowd of shocked onlookers, who expressed horror and sadness at the tragic finding on Halloween. Angela Massella, who noticed part of the suitcase at around 8 a.m., said, “It’s really scary for me, for a body to be around the neighborhood here, it’s really scary.” Another local resident, Gerlen Polk, said, “Just sad. Just sad.”
Oakland police are urging anyone with surveillance video or information about suspicious activity related to the body to come forward and report it to them.
The investigation into this disturbing incident is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the identity of the victim and the circumstances surrounding their death.
Please contact Henry Lee, a KTVU crime reporter, at [email protected], or follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan, if you have any additional information or tips.