A suspect has been arrested in Los Angeles after a homeless man discovered the torso of a woman stuffed inside a plastic bag while digging through a trash bin Wednesday morning, authorities said.
The remains were found around 6:15 a.m. near a dumpster outside a strip mall near the intersection of Ventura Blvd. and Rubio Ave. in the city’s Encino neighborhood, FOX11 Los Angeles reported, citing police.
Video evidence from the scene led investigators to search a home in Tarzana, where Los Angeles Police Det. Efren Gutierrez told KNBC-TV that “blood evidence and other items” were uncovered.
The investigation led to the arrest of 35-year-old Samuel Haskell around 11:30 a.m. at the Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park, KABC-TV reported. Haskell, who was booked on suspicion of murder, is being held on $2 million bail.
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A homeless man digging through a trash bin discovered a female torso inside a plastic bag around 6:15 a.m. Wednesday in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles. (FOX11 Los Angeles KTTV)
Three people close to Haskell remain missing, according to police, including his wife, Mei Haskell, and her parents, 72-year-old Gaoshan Li and 64-year-old YanXiang Wang, police told reporters.
Police arrested 35-year-old Samual Haskell in connection with the discovery. Detectives said that Haskell’s wife and her parents are missing. (FOX11 Los Angeles KTTV)
Police said that the couple’s three young children were safe and in the custody of Children and Family Services.
Police have yet to identify who the body part belongs to. (FOX11 Los Angeles KTTV)
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Meanwhile, the female remains have yet to be identified. It was unclear when the victim was killed, though police told reporters that the torso in the plastic bag was likely dumped within the past couple of days.
Authorities asked anyone with information about the case to contact the LAPD.
