Police Recover Child’s Head, More Body Parts From Chicago Lake

A day after dismembered body parts of a child were found floating in a Chicago lagoon, more gruesome sights awaited Chicago police officials struggling to solve the mysterious case.

On Sunday, hours after the Inquisitr reported about a child’s severed leg and hand found floating in the lagoon, officers discovered more body parts — including the severed head of a child from the lagoon, USA Today reports. Earlier on Saturday, police officers responded to a 911 call made by a passerby who panicked after he saw body parts floating in the lagoon. Investigations began on Saturday and a few hours after the passerby spotted a leg, more body parts belonging to a child were found in the lagoon.

On Monday, officers returned to the lagoon in Garfield Park located on the city’s West Side. They are still trying to determine the identity of the victim who is thought to be between 2 and 4 years old. Earlier, plans were also made to drain the lagoon completely.

Chicago Police Spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi told newspersons the difficulties involved in cases involving children.

“Cases involving children are exceptionally difficult for all affected — even police,” in a tweet he added that Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy had authorized the “full resources & weight of Chicago Police to gather evidence & find those responsible ‘whatever it takes.’ ”

Meanwhile, forensic experts at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office are examining the body parts in order to ascertain the identity of the young victim. DNA samples, fingerprints, and other vital data are being sourced, after which they will check for any matches in the missing children’s records. The cause of death is also a priority and is yet to be ascertained. Officers are also investigating any cases of missing children from the nearby areas.

According to Jason Ervin, the alderman for the district, the child is reportedly between 2- and 4-years-old. The gender of the child, however, is yet to be determined, he added.

“It is unthinkable that someone would dismember a child and throw them into the lagoon,” he told the Associated Press.

Members of the local community have expressed shock at the gruesome discovery and arrived at the park even as investigations continued. A member of the Garfield park Advisory Council told the Chicago Tribune that there have been several instances of bodies being recovered from the park over the years. This is, however, the first time that a child’s body was found there, making the the discovery particularly sad.

[Image via Andy Naylor]