Skeletal Remains Found- South Bend, Indiana
September 30. 2007 6:59AM Neighbor discovers body in empty lot Skeletal remains may have been there for several months. MARTI GOODLAD HELINE Tribune Staff Writer SOUTH BEND -- Police are trying to determine the identity of a body found Saturday afternoon in the 600 block of North Blaine Avenue. Shortly after 2 p.m. South Bend police received a call about skeletal remains discovered in dense undergrowth near the alley at the rear of the lot that would have been 608 N. Blaine. Neither the gender nor the identity of the body was known as of Saturday night, said Capt. Mike Grzegorek, assistant commander of the County Metro Homicide Unit. He said it appeared as if the body, which is small in stature, had been there for months. More information about the body and the possible manner and time of death will be known after an autopsy is performed Monday or Tuesday, Grzegorek said. The body was found by a neighbor cleaning the empty, overgrown lot next to his house in the block south of Lincoln Way West. Oscar Lottie, who said he has lived at 610 N. Blaine for 35 years, said he called 911 about the remains. His brother, Robert Lottie, was trying to cut the weeds and grass in the vacant lot next door when he saw the body, Lottie said. Some time ago, his brother mentioned smelling an unpleasant odor coming from the area, he added. The city owns the lot, Grzegorek said. Grass was cut on the front of the property, where a house used to stand, but the backyard was full of tall weeds and grass. Members of the Metro Homicide Unit spent about four hours at the scene taking photos and searching for evidence before the body was removed in a black plastic bag at 6:45 p.m. Investigators close to the body wore masks over their mouths and noses. Also on the scene was Lynn Coleman, an assistant to the mayor and a former city police officer. Grzegorek said police will begin checking information about the body against missing persons reports and other potentially related incidents. Possible identifying information may come from DNA or dental records, Grzegorek said. Anyone with information concerning the body is asked to call the Metro Homicide Unit officer at (574) 235-5009 or Crime Stoppers at (574) 288-STOP. Staff writer Marti Goodlad Heline: mheline@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6327 http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070930/News01/709300362

October 02. 2007 6:59AM Police still trying to identify dead woman Her remains were found Saturday on weedy lot. JOSHUA STOWE and TOM MOOR Tribune Staff Writers SOUTH BEND -- Police now believe the skeletal remains found Saturday belong to a black woman, but they still don't know who she was or how she died. They've gleaned a few bits of information from an autopsy conducted Monday, and are now enlisting outside help, investigators said in a written statement. Here's what police do know: The woman was short, slight, and between 20 and 40 years old. She's been dead for at least one month, and perhaps several months. A man who was mowing weeds discovered her remains on an empty lot at 608 N. Blaine St., and police didn't find any clothing, jewelry or signs of trauma on the remains. Now, they plan to take the remains to a forensics lab at the University of Indianapolis, where they hope further testing will pinpoint the woman's age and height, and double-check for injuries. They'll also contact area police departments to see if a woman matching her description went missing recently, said Capt. Mike Grzegorek, assistant commander of the county Metro Homicide Unit that is investigating the case. In addition, they're asking that anyone who may have information on the case to call the Metro Homicide Unit at (574) 235-5009 or Crime Stoppers at (574) 288-STOP. http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071002/News01/710020335/1052/News01

October 03. 2007 6:59AM Probe into death may take weeks Tribune Staff Report SOUTH BEND -- Police don't expect to finish probing the death of an unidentified woman whose remains were found on North Blaine Street anytime soon, they said Tuesday. The woman's remains were found Saturday on an overgrown lot at 608 N. Blaine St. Capt. Mike Grzegorek, assistant commander of the county Metro Homicide Unit that is investigating the case, said police will take the remains to Indianapolis this week for forensic tests. "It's an investigation that is not going to be quick by any means," Grzegorek said, adding that the probe will take at least several weeks. Investigators believe the remains belong to a black woman who was short, slight, and between 20 and 40 years old. She had been dead for at least a month, and possibly several months, they said. In addition to seeking further tests, investigators are working with area police departments to see if a woman matching the dead woman's description was reported missing in recent months. They are asking anyone who may have information on the woman's identity to call (574) 235-5009. http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071003/News01/710030330/1052/News01