The body of a tattooed woman was found strangely stuffed inside an abandoned refrigerator in the woods of New Jersey. Police are asking for the public's help in identifying her.
Adding to the mystery, a registered sex offender was arrested last week after claiming he stumbled over a dead body three days before Christmas and then allegedly refusing to hand over his phone to police or have his fingerprints taken.
The body, found in Belle Plaine State Forest in Dennis Township, was described as a woman, possibly white or Hispanic, about 5 feet 1 inch tall with two striking tattoos: a carp on her right shoulder blade and a rose on her rib cage. I had put it in. , According to NJ.com.
A distinctive yoga mat and necklace were found near the scene, which is part of a 21,000-acre forest in northern Cape May County, New Jersey State Police said.
Authorities released photos of the mats and jewelry, as well as images of the dead woman's tattoos. However, it did not reveal how the woman died.
Meanwhile, police arrested John Tyrrell, 46, the North Cape May man who allegedly discovered the woman's body and is a registered sex offender, on suspicion of obstructing the investigation.
State police said Tyrrell told police he went hiking on Dec. 21, stopped in front of the refrigerator and took something out of it.
He said he came across the victim's body the next day. According to the New York Daily News. He signaled to state police and waited for them to arrive before walking to the victim.
According to a criminal complaint filed by state police and the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office, authorities charged him with fourth-degree obstruction and fingerprinting for refusing to give his cellphone or fingerprints to investigators investigating the woman's death. He was charged with failure to comply.
They have not charged the registered sex offender with the death, according to the Daily News.
His lawyer said Tyrrell was “a witness to this incident and nothing more.”
The outlet added that there is no evidence linking him to her death.
On Monday, Assistant Prosecutor Ed Sim said police finally obtained a warrant for the man's cell phone because he was in the same area as the body. Atlantic City Press reported.
Prosecutors had requested Friday that the man be taken into custody. But two days later, a judge released him with an order to meet with court officials, NJ.com reported.
The man was released from a Pennsylvania prison in 2012 after serving nine years for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
State police said Tuesday they had no updates on the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the State Police Woodbine Station at 609-861-5698 or the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office at 609-465-1135, ext. 3480. Anonymous tips are welcome.
