FELLSMERE — An unidentified body was found in a vacant residential lot Saturday afternoon, prompting a death investigation, police officers said.
“Due to the level of decomposition, the race and gender of the body have not been determined at this time,” Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry said. “The manner of death is also undetermined.”
The owner who had recently purchased the property found the body about 4 p.m. in a small wooded area on the south end of the lot, officers said. The property is located in the area of North Willow Street and Lincoln Street, north of County Road 512.
Indian River County sheriff’s crime scene unit went to the scene to collect evidence. Officers said personal items found underneath the body will likely help identify the individual.
The body was taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Fort Pierce. An autopsy was expected to be conducted at 9 a.m. Monday.
Police had left the scene about 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
“This is an active investigation that is currently in the hands of the District 19 Medical Examiner,” Touchberry said. “More information will be released as soon as it is available.”
This is the second incident this week where a body has been discovered in Indian River County.
Sebastian police on Tuesday found the body of 67-year-old Jeanine Bishop in her black Chevrolet Silverado at the Walmart Supercenter parking lot, 2001 U.S. 1. Officers charged Bishop’s fiancé, 56-year-old Michael John Despres, with first-degree murder after he admitted to killing the woman.
The couple lived together in the 400 block of Briarcliff Circle, Sebastian.
Photos provided by Fellsmere Police Department
