Homeless Man Finds Decapitated Body Along San Gabriel River

Animal activity was "most likely" the cause of the separation of a skull from the skeletal remains of a body found in a brush- covered field along the bed of the San Gabriel River in Irwindale, authorities said today.

The remains were found around 5:25 p.m. Thursday by a homeless man searching for recyclables just south of Foothill Boulevard, they said.

Sgt. Scott Hoglund of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said the remains were largely skeletal and appeared to have been there several weeks. The skull was found 15-20 feet from the body.

Hoglund told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that the separation "was most likely animal activity," and that there were no overt signs of trauma to the remains.

—City News Service