No head, no limbs, just a torso found in Northern California field

Detectives in Northern California are investigating what appears to be a decomposing human torso found in a garbage bag in a rural part of Sutter County.

The remains were found Tuesday afternoon in a field three to five miles north of Robbins, a small agricultural town between Sacramento and Yuba City, said Sutter County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Jeff Pierce.

Laborers were working in the area when their equipment churned up the bag, he said. The remains -- which appear to be human but will undergo testing by experts at Chico State University to confirm it -- had no legs, arms or head.

Authorities estimate the remains have been there for six to nine months because of the degree of decomposition, Pierce said. Authorities aren’t sure of the body’s gender or race, but he said the county coroner was “pretty certain” it was human.

As frightening as the discovery is, “it’s not unusual for bodies to be dumped in our county,” Pierce said.

Cadaver dogs combed the area but did not find any other remains. Investigators have virtually no other evidence to work with and will have to wait to see if they can use DNA from the remains to identify the victim -- and that’s where the investigation will likely start, Pierce said.

Experts are expected to examine the body Friday.

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