A railroad crew conducting routine cleanup discovered human remains in a black plastic bag that had been dumped alongside the tracks in Brigham City, Utah.
Police have confirmed the body was that of a woman dressed in black leggings and a black hoodie, with long reddish-brown hair with a hair tie.
A distinct heart-shaped tattoo on her left bicep is now central to the investigation, as officials work to determine her identity.
Officials released an artists rendering of the tattoo and are encouraging anyone who might recognize the design to get in touch.
With the body badly decomposed, the tattoo is the one clear clue investigators are hoping might unlock the mystery of the womans identity.
The body was discovered around 2pm last Wednesday. Workers initially believed the black bag was just garbage but upon closer inspection saw hair and bones inside.
Officers arrived minutes later and confirmed the remains were human.
Detective Crystal Beck of Brigham City Police said the body was in a fairly high state of decomposition, although the entire body was still intact.
Officers were on the scene within minutes on Wednesday to confirm the remains were human
A distinct heart-shaped tattoo on her left bicep is now central to the investigation, as officials work to determine her identity
Police have not yet determined the cause of death, how long the body had been there, or the victims age or race, pending further forensic analysis.
The plastic bag was found about 30 feet from the railroad tracks and about 10 feet from the roadside.
Although the area is technically on the outskirts of Brigham City, a small city of 20,000 residents, the road is a busy one and not particularly remote with birdwatchers and cyclists often passing by.
A crew patrolling the tracks had passed through the area days earlier - apparently without noticing anything unusual.
Law enforcement has classified the case as a homicide.
Forensic teams from Weber Metro CSI, search and rescue K9 units, and the Box Elder County Sheriffs Office combed the surrounding area for clues.
The victims remains have been taken to the Office of the State Medical Examiner, where forensic analysts are working to extract DNA and piece together any viable biological profile.
Brigham City Police Chief Chad Reyes said the remains were found in a more pliable container than a standard garbage bag, though he declined to provide specifics due to the ongoing investigation.
Detective Crystal Beck of Brigham City Police said the body was in a fairly high state of decomposition, although the entire body was still intact
A Union Pacific railroad crew conducting a routine cleanup discovered human remains in a black plastic bag that had been dumped alongside the tracks in Brigham City, northern Utah
Workers initially believed the black bag was just garbage but then saw hair and bones inside upon closer inspection
Although the area is technically on the outskirts of Brigham City, the road is a busy one and not particularly remote with birdwatchers and cyclists often passing by
Authorities are are now working with local, state, and national missing persons databases.
Locals appeared shocked at the discovery being made so close to their homes.
To me, this isnt a very way-out-of the way place, said Joe Reeder, who lives nearby to KUTV.
Were right along a major highway here with a lot of traffic. I mean, were just a few minutes from Brigham City right here in the other direction, so its really not out in the middle of nowhere where.
I feel like its pretty chill out here. Nothing really happens, thats why Im saying its pretty surprising that something like that would happen, added Saul De Casas, who lives down the road from where the body was found.
Police also confirmed they contacted the Cottonwood Heights Police Department to determine if the remains might be connected to the case of Utah National Guardsman Matthew Johnson, whose body has not been found following the arrest of his wife, Jennifer Gledhill, for murder.
As of now, that connection has not been confirmed.