WAYNE, Mich. – Authorities are investigating a disturbing discovery along the Rouge River in Wayne, where a decomposed body was found entangled in the river’s embankment. The grim find was made by a kayaker on Wednesday evening, who quickly reported it to 911, prompting an immediate response from local police and leaving residents shaken.
Residents living near John R Street and Pershing Street were taken aback by the unsettling news in their tranquil neighborhood. Many expressed their disbelief and concern, with Rodney Severance describing the finding as a shock and Lolita Ingram noting how unexpectedly close to home the incident was.
Law enforcement from both the city of Wayne and Michigan State Police were on the scene throughout Thursday morning, actively working to uncover details about the discovery. The Wayne County Medical Examiner arrived later in the day to retrieve the lower half of the remains for examination. Officials had discovered the upper torso of the body in a separate section of the river on Wednesday, further deepening the mystery.
The case presents more questions than answers for the local community. Neighbors, such as Terry Markey, voiced worries about whether the body might be someone from the area, while Rick Turk expressed hope and trust in police efforts to solve the case.
Currently, authorities have released minimal information and have disclosed that the condition of the remains has made it impossible to identify the victim immediately. The investigation is ongoing as police attempt to piece together the circumstances that surrounded this unsettling discovery.